NGCP restores power transmission services in parts of Zamboanga Peninsula

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=808272&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=Pagadian%20City&andor=and&mdte_arch=9&ddte_arch=0&ydte_arch=2015

PAGADIAN CITY, Sept. 25 (PNA) –- The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines on Thursday has completely restored power in Western Mindanao and some areas in Northern Mindanao.

The NGCP move came after the Agus 5-Aurora 138-kV line tripped off, which caused power outage in the areas.

Elizabeth Ladaga, NGCP regional corporate communications officer, said on Friday that investigation showed trees and vegetation along the Baloi-Aurora 138- kilovolt (KV) in Sitio Taytay, Barangay Ditucalan, Iligan City caused the line to trip at 9:35 a.m. on Thursday.

She said the scheduled maintenance shutdown on the second line--Agus 5-Aurora 138-KV--delivering power to Zamboanga Peninsula was aborted to bring back the power immediately to the affected areas.

She said the transmission line was energized before noon of the same day Thursday, restoring power to Zamboanga Peninsula.

The Baloi–Aurora 138-kV line, on the other hand, was energized at 1:13 p.m. after trees and vegetation that caused the line fault was cleared.

Ladaga said the planting of trees and vegetation clearly violates the company’s right-of-way policy and breached the recommended safety clearance.

Meanwhile, the NGCP commits to vigilantly monitor the grid for similar incidents that cause disturbance to the grid and vows to restore transmission services at the soonest possible time.

“This, however, has proven to be a challenge for us,” the company said.

“It has become the practice of some uncooperative landowners to intentionally plant trees or build structures under NGCP lines, and demand for recompense when we seek entry into the property to conduct maintenance activities. The trees and other structures under our facilities breach our safety clearances and endanger the reliability of the entire grid. This is exactly what happened today,” NGCP stressed.

NGCP has repeatedly warned the public that trees and other structures under transmission facilities breached safety clearances and endangered the reliability of the entire grid.

“These lines are crucial to the delivery of electricity from the power sources to the Mindanaoan consumers. We are seeking the aid of the provincial governments in the area by asking them to support our efforts against these uncooperative landowners, and when relevant, issue a resolution prohibiting tree-planting and building of structures under transmission lines,” NGCP said.

The right-of-way condition has elevated the Mindanao grid to a critical level by threatening the entire island with rotating power interruptions due to aggravated generation deficiency caused by transmission lines overrun by vegetation.

“Right-of-way remains one of the biggest stumbling blocks for new projects as well as regular maintenance activities. We hope that these errant landowners will allow us to conduct our maintenance activities without resistance, for the sake of all electricity consumers in Mindanao,” NGCP said.

NGCP is a privately owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid.

It transmits high-voltage electricity through “power superhighways” that include the interconnected system of transmission lines, towers, substations, and related assets.

The consortium, which holds the 25-year concession contract to operate the country's power transmission network, is comprised of Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp., led by Henry Sy, Jr., Calaca High Power Corp., led by Robert Coyiuto, Jr., and the State Grid Corp. of China (SGCC) as technical partner. (PNA)

RMA/BNB/TPGJR/HIROHITO D. CADION