NGCP assures post-earthquake grid stability, extends assistance

National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) assured its customers of a stable Luzon grid as it extends assistance to power plants affected by the earthquakes last April 8.

NGCP will be providing support to First NatGas, which operates

the San Gabriel Combined-Cycle Power Plant (CCPP). The company reported damage to its equipment in San Lorenzo Units 50 and 60, San Gabriel Unit 70, Avion Switchyard, and Sta. Rita Switchyard. Among the affected high-voltage components are circuit breakers, disconnect switches, and current and combined current/voltage transformers.

“NGCP will be looking to provide any on- hand equipment as needed by San Gabriel CCPP. NGCP is also ready to extend all forms of assistance to other generation companies in order to speed up the restoration, energization, and eventual synchronization of their power plants back to the Luzon grid,” NGCP stated.

Due to the forced outage of earthquake- affected power plants, yellow and red alerts were raised by NGCP due to insufficient operating power.

“NGCP’s facilities within the vicinity of Batangas are all stable and ready to transmit power. The assistance to the generation companies will expedite the normalization of the power situation,” confirmed NGCP.

After an extensive inspection in Batangas and nearby areas, NGCP declared its lines and facilities as cleared of damage and awaiting energization pending the return of affected power plants. The foot patrols and aerial inspections were conducted despite the numerous aftershocks experienced following the magnitude 5.6 and 6.0 earthquakes with an epicenter in Mabini, Batangas.

NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto Jr./