PAGADIAN
CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (Oct. 8, 2016) - The goal of becoming one of the best
power utilities in Southeast Asia is within reach for the country’s sole power
grid operator, NGCP, as it institutionalized the technical standardization
system for the core functions of the company.
Elizabeth
Ladaga, Regional Corporate Communications and Public
Affairs Officer, in the press release dated Oct. 5, 2016 disclosed that through
technical standardization, NGCP is able to better develop and implement a
system to improve the quality of its services and operational efficiency, and
more efficiently align its internal processes. NGCP has set a total of 109
standards on equipment and material specifications, project and construction
management, planning and design, maintenance and testing, and operations, among
others. These standards are based on global standards and best practices of
international power utilities.
According
to NGCP, technical standardization contributes to the company’s improved levels
of compatibility and interchangeability of equipment, spare parts and
materials, and commonality of processes, as well as administrative and
management functions. An example is the standard design of transmission
facility components which makes management of transmission line and
equipment spare materials easier. The standard design or specification can be
used for more than just one facility of a similar capacity or function, thus
maximizing compatibility and interoperability.
“Setting
these standards has made designing new projects and maintaining existing lines
easier, but, at the same time, more stringent. The standards serve as design
references for new project requirements, hence, consistent quality is ensured
across our projects and maintenance activities,” said NGCP.
Among
the completed design standards are for substations, control and protection
systems, telecom facilities, steel pole and lattice transmission line
structures, and civil works structures. Implementing these standards minimized
design man-hours and ensured the highest degree of reliability.
The
company also set in place a new and more effective Network Protection
System designed to quickly detect risks to grid integrity, such as line faults
and voltage fluctuations, and, subsequently, implement preventive or mitigating
actions with minimum energy loss and with due regard to health, property and
the environment.
“The
Network Protection System is yet another step towards a smarter grid. We
prioritized setting these standards to improve the quality of our service to
grid customers. Our customers are assured that all NGCP facilities across the
country adhere to these standards and practices which are at par with our
international counterparts,” noted NGCP.
These
standards are revisited on a regular basis to keep it up to date and responsive
to the changing technologies and current needs of NGCP’s operations. In
completing the standards, natural disasters, high temperature and humidity,
which are inherent in the Philippines, were also considered.
Alongside
these technical standards, NGCP also secured Integrated Management System (IMS)
re-certifications, including ISO9001 for Quality Management, ISO14001 for
Environmental Management and OHSAS18001 in Occupational Health and Safety
Management, collectively covering 25 corporate procedures, in January 2015,
valid for three years.
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)
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