Intentionally planted trees under transmission lines caused Zamboanga peninsula blackout

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (Oct. 8, 2016) - A bunch of intentionally and maliciously planted banana trees caused the tripping of the Agus 5-Aurora 138-kV line and subsequent tripping of the Baloi-Aurora 138-kV line on 15 September 2016. These trippings caused the blackout of the entire Zamboanga peninsula, including areas served by distribution utilities ZAMSURECO I, ZAMSURECO II, ZANECO, ZAMCELCO, MOELCI I, MOELCI II, and parts of LANECO, at 11:37AM. The lines were restored on the same day at 12:01PM.

Elizabeth Ladaga, Regional Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Officer, in the press release dated Oct. 3, 2016 disclosed that NGCP conducted right-of-way clearing activities on both lines last February 2016, except at the area between towers 29 and 30 of the Agus 5-Aurora 138-kV line located in the property of a landowner who refused access for maintenance activities. These uncut and untrimmed trees, apart from violating right-of-way clearances, reached a height that caused the line-to-ground fault and subsequent tripping. Traces of burned plants were found in the area owned by a certain Mr. Eliezar Olaier.

NGCP warned that blackouts are inevitable especially when landowners continue to maliciously plant trees and build structures within the ROW clearances, and demand exorbitant amounts before allowing NGCP access to the property. “While NGCP is exerting all efforts to provide quality power transmission services to all its customers, these will be futile if we continue to encounter delays not just in new projects, but even during regular maintenance activities,” stressed NGCP.

The system operator continues its appeal for support from the LGUs, local community leaders, and the public to negotiate with difficult landowners, to prevent longer power interruptions and ensure reliable operations. It is also pushing for the refiling of the “Anti-Power Line Disturbance Act”, which was proposed in the previous Congress.

“NGCP is reiterating its support for the passage of the ‘Act prohibiting the planting of plants and trees, and the construction of any structure under or within the right-of-way clearance of all power transmission and distribution lines and providing penalties for violation thereof’ in the current 17th Congress. We are hopeful that support in the form of legislation, through the House and Senate Committees on Energy, will eliminate substantial delays in project construction and obstruction in regular maintenance works. After all, this is not only for NGCP but also for distribution utilities encountering the same difficulties,” stated the grid operator.  

  

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 Corporation led by Robert Coyiuto, Jr., and the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) as technical partner.

(By Jong Cadion with PR)