The transmission line uprating and completion of a substation project will shore up power supply being wheeled into Clark special economic zone (CSEZ) that shall underpin the planned infrastructure build-up for the area.

In a press statement, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) noted that its Concepcion-Clark transmission line No. 2 has been rated higher to 230 kilovolts, from its initial configuration of 69-kV when it was first lined up to service the power needs of locator Texas Instruments.

NGCP said the line was energized last November 30, simultaneous to that of transformer Nos. 1 and 2 of the Clark substation.

The Concepcion-Clark line No.1, which was energized December 9 last year, completed the loop of the ecozone’s power transmission network.

“Clark special ecozone will host an international airport and a proposed technopark, which will both require reliable electricity for their operations,” NGCP emphasized.

Upon endorsement from the Palace, the company noted that it opted to prioritize the project having assessed that these would be vital in improving “the delivery of quality and reliable power in the Clark special ecozone.”

“The project was endorsed by the Office of the President in support of efforts to transform CSEZ into a competitive international service and logistics center in the South Pacific region,” NGCP stressed.

The other components of the project include furnishing, delivery, installation, testing and commissioning of the 230-kV substation equipment and its associated control, protection and communication equipment for the Concepcion substation in Tarlac and Clark substation in Pampanga.

Clark is aligned as another growth corridor potential – with it already hosting array of industrial locators that help spur economic opportunities and job creation prospects for the country.

Since electricity is another key element to economic expansion, NGCP is hoping that its undertaking will “provide continuous and reliable power to the locators and customers in the ecozone.”