NGCP completes Aurora-Polanco line

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has improved the reliability of the Mindanao grid with the completion of the Aurora-Polanco 138-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines.

NGCP said Line 1 of the Aurora-Polanco 138-kv transmission facility was energized last June 20, while Line 2 was energized on July 22.

The project is part of NGCP’s efforts to continuously upgrade its facilities and to address the recent voltage fluctuations in Northern Mindanao.

It is one of NGCP’s initiatives to reinforce power transmission services in the Zamboanga del Norte area, especially in light of Mindanao’s rapid load growth in recent years.

“As we continue to improve the country’s transmission grid, we also intensify our focus on the development of Mindanao as an integral part of the country’s growth,” it said.

“The energization of the Aurora-Polanco 138-kV transmission line is another step towards decreasing power interruptions, mitigating the recent series of voltage fluctuations in the area, and ensuring the best quality of power that flows into homes, businesses and industries in Northern Mindanao,” the grid operator said.

NGCP said Dipolog City, Dapitan City, and the municipality of Polanco are three important load centers in the Zamboanga del Norte area, which have been growing its power consumption year after year.

These areas have been suffering from a recent series of voltage fluctuations as only one dated 69-kV transmission line is able to carry power to these areas all the way from Aurora in Zamboanga del Sur, it said.

The new 138-kV line will not only supplement the old line, but will also enable more power to be transmitted to Zamboanga del Norte all the way to Misamis Occidental – effectively ensuring the continuous and reliable supply of power to the entire area.

To increase reliability, NGCP said it also simultaneously upgraded its Aurora and Polanco Substations to accommodate twice the amount of power flowing into its facilities.