PEDC’s P364 M transmission line to ensure reliable power
Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC), an affiliate of Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC), launched yesterday the construction of a 138 kilovolts (kV) transmission line going to the substation of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.
The transmission line would facilitate power transmission from PEDC’s 164 megawatt (mW) state-of-art circulating fluidized bed coal-fired power plant to key clients from all of Panay Island and even Negros Occidental. It will also enhance power reliability of the Cebu-Negros-Panay Grid.
PEDC’s coal-fired power plant in Brgy. Ingore, La Paz is undergoing construction and is expected to start commercial operation by October next year.
Present during the groundbreaking rites were GBPC top executives led by Executive Vice Pres. for Operations Silvano Sanoria, PEDC Director Felipe Uy Gongco and key officials from the NGCP and other partners.
Engr. Henry Alcalde, Project Manager, said the transmission line which has an approximate length of 19 kilometers will traverse 17 barangays from Iloilo City, Pavia and Sta. Barbara.
A total of 112 compact lattice type towers will be put up from the PEDC compound up to Brgy. Cafe, Sta. Barbara to carry the transmission lines.
The project which costs over P364 million will be undertaken jointly by Hansei Corp. and N.O.R.M. Construction and Development Corporation. It is expected to be completed in 12 months.
Engr. Gil Altamira, Head of Commercial Operations of GBPC, said the multi-million project will be shouldered by GBPC and PEDC but will eventually be turned over to the government through the NGCP.
He said GBPC has gone out of it way to put up the transmission line just in time for the commercial operation of the PEDC’s coal-fired power plant as there is no existing transmission line that would connect the plant to the NGCP substation in Sta. Barbara.
Altamira said electric cooperatives from Panay and Negros Occidental had already signed a Memorandum of Agreement with PEDC that they will source out their power from the latter once the coal-fired power plant begins operation.
He said the coal-fired power plant would help address the looming power crisis on Panay Island as projected by the Department of Energy starting next year.
