New projects boost power supply in Calamba, Laguna
The Manila Electric Company and STMicroelectronics Inc., the largest European semiconductor contract manufacturing and design company in the country, recently inaugurated the new 115 kV Gas-Insulated Switchgear substation located at Light Industry and Science Park 2 in Calamba City, Laguna.
The new substation will facilitate the upgrading of STMI’s electric service from 34.5 kV to 115 kV and accommodate its growing demand, which is projected to increase to 20 megawatts 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 ST 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’s 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, according to Meralco senior vice president and head of networks Ronnie L. Aperocho.
“This new STMI Substation along with our 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 is consistent with our commitment to our more than 7.6 million customers,” he said.
The timely energization of these electric distribution facilities was made possible by the collaboration of One Meralco through its subsidiaries MServ, one of the largest energy service companies in the Philippines, and MIESCOR, one of the country’s leading service providers of engineering, construction and maintenance service.
The new La Mesa 115kV Switching Station was commissioned in conjunction with the energization of STMI’s GIS Substation in LISP 2, Calamba City, Laguna and shall accommodate the projected increase in its demand from 14MW to 20MW by 2027.