LAOAG CITY, Jan. 30 (PIA) – A 230 kilovolt transmission line project from San Esteban, Ilocos Sur to Laoag City is underway to feed power generated from various wind farms in Ilocos Norte to the Luzon grid.
A project of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines , the transmission line is also required by the Philippine Grid Code to be used in the immediate restoration of power supply during a power outage.
NGCP North Luzon Public Affairs Officer Lilibeth P. Gaydowen said the 230kV line is in addition to the existing 115kV line installed from its San Esteban sub-station to Laoag City sub-station.
“Aside from using the line to transmit wind power generations to the grid, it is also used in immediate shifting of power load in case of unscheduled power interruptions,” Gaydowen explained.
The construction and installation of the 230kV line started in 2013. It will be completed and fully-operational by the end of 2015.
She said all the requirements and permits for the line installation from San Esteban, Ilocos Sur to Laoag City have been secured.
“NGCP is presently paying the appropriate compensation to the affected landowners in the construction of the towers and installation of the transmission lines,” she added.
Earlier, NGCP President and CEO Henry Sy, Jr. said the grid company had complied with the provisions of the prevailing laws and regulations regarding the implementation of its projects.
“We recognize that social acceptability and compliance with environmental regulations and other legal requirements are critical in implementing our projects,” said Sy.
“Internally, we have strict guidelines in place for the conduct of project presentations for Planning and Engineering transmission projects. With the communities’ welfare in mind, we have been doing these project presentations to disseminate information to the affected barangays and other stakeholders,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sy disclosed that the requirement of securing endorsements from local government units is based on the Local Government Code which the National Transmission Corporation , as a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) and grid operator, should comply with.
“However, the Local Government Code does not apply to NGCP as the power grid company is a private corporation and is not a national government agency or GOCC,” Sy clarified in a press statement. (Freddie G. Lazaro/PIA-1 Ilocos Norte)
