NGCP’s P2.336B Laguindingan substation project gets ERC nod

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has given the thumbs up for the implementation of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP)’s substation project in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental.

In a statement on Thursday, the ERC said it issued a resolution on November 21, 2024 approving NGCP’s Laguindingan 230 kilovolt (kV)) Substation Project under ERC Case No. 2021- 002 RC.

The project, with a total cost of P2,336,389,334.51, is expected to “boost grid security and support economic growth in Northern Mindanao,” according to the power industry regulator.

In particular, the agency said the 230-kV substation will bolster the power supply for Misamis Oriental I Electric Cooperative (MORESCO I) and support the province’s domestic industrial zone, Laguindingan Technopark, with the needed high-power transmission corridor.

The project will also address the overloading in the existing Opol Substation —which serves as the main power supply for the Laguindingan area, and address the limitations of the Tagoloan Substation, where several components require upgrading due to low interrupting capacity.

The ERC said it directed NGCP to complete the Laguindingan Substation project by January 31, 2025.

“Failure to meet the deadline will subject NGCP to administrative penalties, as mandated by applicable laws and regulations,” the ERC said.

The ERC said its approval of capital expenditure projects “highlights its commitment to ensuring a robust and reliable energy infrastructure to meet the growing demands of industrial and residential sectors in the country.” —Ted Cordero/RF, GMA Integrated News