The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has started a series of substation upgrades in Mindanao beginning with the 100 megavolt ampere (MVA) power transformer at its Toril substation in Davao.
The Toril substation serves the franchise area of Davao Light and Power Co. providing the electricity needs of Davao City. This power transformer upgrade is the first under the second Mindanao Substation Upgrading Project (MSUP2).
MSUP2, which will cost P5.56 billion, will equip ten substations in Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Davao del Sur, North Cotabato and South Cotabato with new power transformers to ensure continuous operations.
The project will also enable contingencies that allow the Mindanao grid to withstand a major system disturbance with minimal or no impact to the system.
“The energization of the transformer in Toril, as well as the energization of high voltage equipment and facilities all over Mindanao, will boost the grid’s overall reliability. These upgrading efforts are ultimately geared towards readying the grid for the influx of businesses, industries and investments in the region,” said the NGCP in a statement.
“The MSUP2 is again testament to our commitment to expand and improve the country’s transmission grid and to provide better services at a lower cost to the consumer,” it added.
The first phase of MSUP involved the energization of power transformers with a 100 MVA rating at its Agus 6, Pitogo, Placer, NagaMin and General Santos substations.
The program also energized power transformers with a 75 MVA rating in Polanco, Opol and Maramag substations and a different set of 50 MVA power transformers in San Francisco, Bislig, and Kidapawan substations.
The first phase of the project with an approved project cost of P5 billion by the Energy Regulatory Commission also involved the installation of capacitor banks in NGCP’s Butuan, Tacurong, Pitogo, General Santos, San Francisco and Placer substations.
