The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) faces delays as the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has deferred the rollout of several projects across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
In an ERC notice, the regulator noted that Group 3 capital expenditure (CAPEX) projects, spanning 2020 to 2025 and beyond, were postponed due to “pending issues that needed to be addressed.”
ERC stated that the provision requires further deliberation, with instructions or directives to be issued to relevant units.
“We just need some items verified and updated because this set is tied to other ongoing projects. Then, it will be submitted for deliberation again,” said ERC Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta.
While some of the 15 projects are currently in various stages of development, some awaiting the ERC’s next step forward.
According to the NGCP’s data in 2021, seven of the group 3 situated in Luzon, four of them in Visayas, and four in Mindanao.
Group 3 CAPEX projects include the ₱16.9 billion Northern Luzon 230-kilovolt (kV) loop project, designed to accommodate renewable energy (RE) and other power plants in the area.
Another project is the ₱13 billion Nagsaag-Santiago 500 kV transmission line project in Luzon, which is intended to support hydro, geothermal, and solar power plants in Ifugao, Kalinga, and Apayao.
Additionally, the Bolo-Baloan 500 kV transmission project is planned to accommodate the proposed 1,200-megawatt (MW) Luna coal plant in La Union and the 500 MW COHECO Badeo pumped-storage hydropower plant in Benguet, as well as new RE capacities.
Moreover, the ₱20.8 billion Balaoan-Laoag 500 kV transmission line is slated for wind farm and solar project capacities in Ilocos Norte.
Phase 2 of the Western Luzon 500 kV backbone project is intended to facilitate bulk generation entry in North Luzon.
The Cabanatuan-Sampaloc-Nagsaag 230 kV transmission line project aims at resolving overloading issues in the Cabanatuan-Sampaloc and Sampaloc-Nagsaag transmission lines.
Lastly, the Bauang-La Trinidad 230 kV transmission line upgrade is designed to address overloading of the existing line.
In Visayas, projects include the Granada and Nivel Hills 230 kV substations, designed to address overloading concerns. The Sumangga and La Carlota 128 kV substation projects are planned to reduce power interruption risks and prevent load curtailment.
In Mindanao, the Agus 6-Kiwalan-Lugait and Maco-Tagum 69 kV transmission line projects are included. The Maco-Tagum project aims to meet rising power demand in Tagum City and provide additional power supply in Davao del Norte.
The Sultan Kudarat-Tacurong 230 kV transmission line project is intended to provide reliable power delivery in Southwestern Mindanao, while the Opol substation bus-in project aims to make the Opol substation compliant with single-outage contingency requirements of the Philippine Grid Code