By Madelaine B. Miraflor Aboitiz Construction, Inc. (ACI) has bagged a deal that will allow it, for the first time, to design and construct a substation, switchyard, as well as do maintenance-related work for high and low voltage power lines. This developed as the company secured a P206-million contract to design and construct Lima Enerzone Corporation's 69kV over head transmission line for the Lima Technology Center in Lipa, Batangas. The latest transmission construction project strengthens ACI's foothold in the power construction market. The transmission line will traverse 64 kilometers across Batangas City up to Lipa City, where the Lima Technology Center is located. ACI, together with its international arm, Aboitiz Construction International, Inc., is the construction arm of Aboitiz and Co. It has been tapped by various local and international customers in the power, mining, cement, shipbuilding, housing and commercial, and manufacturing industries. Two years ago, the company refreshed its brand demonstrating its capability as a fully-fledged design, engineering, and construction company. "ACI has had foundation and erection work in its past transmission projects, but the Lima Enerzone project allows ACI to undertake the entire scope of work from design to construction of the substation, switchyard and maintenance-related work for high and low voltage power lines," the company said. Dante Pollescas, Chief Operating Officer of Lima Enerzone, is confident that ACI can deliver the project ahead of schedule. "We are excited to partner with ACI, which committed to finish construction before the target date. ACI is an international company with proven track record in delivering quality products to its clients on time," he said. Pollescas said the project would increase reliability, ensure continued power supply, mitigate unwanted power outages, and address systems losses, all of which will ultimately benefit the locators within the industrial zone. For his part, ACI President and Chief Operating Officer Albert A. Ignacio Jr. said he is optimistic that this will pave the way for more projects of this kind in the future. "We thank Lima Enerzone for the trust and confidence. This has actually opened doors for us and as we speak, we are talking to potential client for a bigger transmission line project. What we have here is a synergy of two companies that can go a long way," he said.