Meralco unveils Laguna substation
THE Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) on Tuesday announced that it has put up a new substation and a switching station within the Light Industry and Science Park 2 (LISP 2) in Calamba City, Laguna.
The substation and switching station will address the growing demand of Stmicroelectronics Inc. (STMI), the largest European semiconductor contract manufacturing and design company in the country.
The utility firm and STMI recently inaugurated the new 115 kv Gas-insulated Switchgear (GIS) substation, which will facilitate the upgrading of STMI’S electric service from 34.5 kv (kilovolt) to 115 kv and accommodate its growing demand, which is projected to increase to 20 megawatts (MW) by 2027 from 14 MW last year.
The facility houses one 115 kv High-voltage Gas-insulated Switchgear, two 30 MVA Power Transformers, one 4.16 kv Medium-voltage Switchgear, two 750 kvar capacitor banks, and various protective devices. Besides the new substation, Meralco also recently commissioned the new La Mesa 115 kv switching station, also within the LISP 2. This project, which will improve the system reliability and power quality in the area, consists of a gas circuit breaker, three sets of disconnect switches, and standard connection and metering facilities for the Philippine office of STMI.
“These projects are expected to address not only the limited power supply of STMI Calamba, which is one of our highest operational risks, but also our future power supply demand, our power quality, our carbon neutrality strategy, and will definitely improve our site power resilience,” STMI Vice President and General Manager Yong Suk Kwon said.
Meralco Senior Vice President and Head of Networks Ronnie Aperocho said the new STMI substation along with the new La Mesa switching station is designed to support the growing power requirements of STMI’S Philippine office through the delivery of safe, adequate, reliable, and high-quality electricity service which, he said, is consistent with the utility firm’s commitment to its more than 7.6 million customers.
Meralco First Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Ferdinand O. Geluz, meanwhile, urged companies to work closely with the power distributor for their various energy requirements.
“Through our dedicated relationship management teams, Meralco works hand-in-hand with its Enterprise customers to identify and tailor-fit solutions that will ensure reliable power for their operational requirements.”
Meralco’s said its continuing efforts to meet the requirements of industrial customers form part of the distribution utility’s commitment to contribute to improving the country’s infrastructure and ensuring energy security which fall under the government’s socioeconomic agenda.