NGCP installs P1.1-billion transmission line in Mindanao

Private-led National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has mounted a P1.1-billion transmission line covering the northeastern portion of Mindanao.

The second Butuan-Placer 138 kilovolt (kV) line connects the Butuan substation in Agusan del Norte and Placer substation in Surigao del Norte. It will benefit electric cooperatives in Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur from “improved voltage level, reduced transmission system losses, and the mitigation of unwanted power interruptions in the area.”

The new line reinforces the old Butuan-Placer line, which has been operating since 1995, to prevent load dropping in times of unplanned outages.

“We fully recognize the potentiality of Mindanao and are preparing for significant load growth in the coming years,” NGCP said in a statement on Friday.

The latest transmission line is part of the first phase of NGCP’s Mindanao reliability compliance project.

Other transmission projects in the area include the Mindanao backbone and the Mindanao-Visayas interconnection projects, both of which aim to enhance the reliability of the company’s transmission services in the region. — Adam J. Ang