Grid operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said it will strengthen the Western Luzon transmission backbone with four projects worth P17.9 billion that are expected to be completed by 2025.
NGCP said it would develop the P1.34-billion Western Luzon 500-kilovolt backbone project to cater to the impending load growth in the western part of Luzon.
The project will be constructed to accommodate the bulk generation in Zambales province such as the planned 600-megawatt RP Energy coal-fired power plant.
The first stage of the project will involve the construction of the Castillejos-Hermosa 500 kilovolt transmission line and will be connected to the new Hermosa Substation. The ERC-approved Western Luzon 500 kV project is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2020.
The second stage of the project will involve the construction of a new Castillejos substation, Bolo Substation and the Castillejos-Bolo 500kV Transmission Line. Stage 2 of the project is slated to be completed by 2025.
NGCP is also gearing up for other projects in Bataan, particularly the P5.94-billion Mariveles-Hermosa 500kV Transmission Line Project, the P10.28-billion Hermosa-San Jose 500kV Transmission Line Project, and the P315.77-million Hermosa-Floridablanca 69kV Transmission Line.
“All of these projects in the western part of Luzon are critical in the stability and reliability of the transmission system in the near future,” NGCP said.