Power line investment to boost supply in Panay

All set for the 138kV Sta Barbara substation transmission line that will soon boost sufficient power distribution in Panay Island that will be sourced from the Global Business Power Corp. GBPC) plant in Ingore, La Paz, Iloilo City.

This was assured by Engr. Gil Altamira of the Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC), an affiliate of GBPC, and Engr. Christopher Paras of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) during the groundbreaking rites of the P346 million transmission line project on December 10, 2009 at the GBPC compound here.

Paras said the first coal fired power plant in Panay with 164 megawatts is more than enough to supply power in Iloilo City and the rest of Panay Island provinces and Negros Occidental.

Iloilo City, currently consuming from 70 to 75 megawatts, is expected to increase its power demand starting next year after several call centers and commercial hubs especially Megaworld Corp. are in place.

Completion of the coal plant is slated before the end of 2010 and is expected to bring down the cost of power in Panay, Paras said.

The transmission line joint agreement covers power transmission from the circulating fluidized bed coal fired power plant not only to supply clients but will also to enhance power reliability of the Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) Grid.

It is just in time for the commercial operation of PEDC’s coal fired power plant and the 19-kilomter line traverses 17 barangays in the province of Iloilo. It is expected to be completed in October 2010 in coordination with the NGCP.

The transmission line is also expected to support the clamor of electric cooperatives to strengthen their campaign for increased power reliability in Panay and lower systems lost by 2010.

On the other hand, NGCP will also forge transmission line agreements with several electric cooperatives in Panay in a move to augment and assure enough power supply.

by Lydia C. Pendon