NGCP’s Mindanao grid to fuel Philippines ring main unit market

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has announced the tentative completion of its Mindanao transmission backbone project, months ahead of its stipulated termination date. Sources claim that the project, originally anticipated to have been concluded by June 2019, is now likely to be accomplished in the first quarter of the year 2019 itself.For the uninitiated, NGCP’s 230 kilo Volt (kV) Mindanao Transmission Backbone Project had been formulated on the grounds of enhancing the electricity generation in the region by augmenting the existing capacity of two crucial transmission lines – the Balo-i-Maramag-Bunawan and the Matanao-Toril-Bunawan, from 138 kV to 230 kV. The project also aims to enable the installation of an additional 2,400 megawatt (MW) of capacity in the northern and southern parts of the region. The upgradation of this transmission network has also been forecast to have a substantial impact on the regional ring main unit market.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is of the opinion that the successful completion of this project would enable mammoth power generating plants such as San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and GNPower to connect to the grid, thereby augmenting the generating capability of incoming plants. Correspondingly, cite NGCP’s representatives, the locals would enjoy the benefits of quality, reliable, and uninterrupted power supply. NGCP also has myriad other transmission network enhancement projects lined up, which it intends to fast-track. This would provide an impetus to the regional ring main unit industry, pertaining to the requirement of RMUs in transmission lines.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) claims that the Mindanao transmission backbone project also aims to serve as a vital constituent of the Visayas-Mindanao Interconnection Project (VMIP). Apparently, this would help interlink the nation’s power grids, which would, in consequence, enable power sharing between the major islands in the country. In effect, the project would ultimately aim to ensure optimum stability and reliability of the local grid infrastructure, which would emerge as a vital driving force of the regional ring main unit market.