Concessionaire National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is targetting the completion by March 2011 of the P1.189 billion worth Wright-Calbayog 138-kilovolt (kV) project to shore up transmission capacity in Eastern Visayas.

The project contract was awarded to China’s Xian Electric last month via an open and competitive bidding; while the substation component was cornered by ABB Philippines.

NGCP noted it already acquired right-of-way (ROW) for about 97-percent of the sites where the towers shall be installed.

“The project is expected to enhance the reliability and quality of electric power by extending the 138-kV backbone transmission system to the northern part of Samar island,” the company noted in a press statement.

The transmission development blueprint of the NGCP, primarily those for uprating or expansion, has to be harmonized on when additional capacity is needed in specific areas.

Since its entry as concessionaire for the National Transmission Corporation, NGCP has been prioritizing uprating and repair works of transmission lines to improve their capacity in wheeling supply dispatched from power plants.

As far as northern Samar is concerned, the company noted that supply is transmitted through the 69-kilovolt (kV) line, but this is supported by wood poles “which are susceptible to tripping causing outages and frequent electric power service interruptions.”

The upgrading is necessary, NGCP said, as this will also “expand Wright substation and install improvements on transformers as well as protection and communication equipment.” It will also lump in the construction of a new substation in Calbayog.

“Upon the completion of the project, the power customers in Northern Samar and nearby localities would be the direct beneficiaries of the stronger transmission network,” the company emphasized.

Aside from efforts at improving power supply reliability in the Visayas, the company is also replicating efforts in various parts of the country.

In Luzon, the company is working on rehabilitation and upgrading of the San Jose substation, a crucial backbone that underpins supply for giant utility firm Manila Electric Company.

“Maintaining the stability, reliability and efficiency of transmission of power in the Visayas grid remains as NGCP’s priority,” the company stressed.