The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has invested P147 million to build a new power control center for the Mindanao grid.
Constructed from October 26, 2010 to April 19, 2012, the new building located in Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City houses state-of-the-art SCADA/EMS systems and telecommunications equipment and also serves as the office of the Mindanao System Operations, which was previously based in Iligan City.
The new regional control center serves as the nerve center for grid operations in Mindanao equipped with modern power monitoring and control systems.
The building was constructed as part of the infrastructure upgrade under the third regulatory period.
Carmen substation located in the heart of Cagayan De Oro City was chosen after an extensive evaluation of its the technical, business and security viability.
Considering that load center of power generation and the expansion of NGCP backbone facilities has moved geographically away from the Agus Complex in Iligan City to the northeastern and southern parts on Mindanao, NGCP deemed it best to move the regional control center as well.
Taking cue from the knowledge and experience of its partners from the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) that Regional Control Centers in China are located in the heart of urbanized cities and not in far-flung substations, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City was selected as the new site for being the nearest and most accessible to customers and stakeholders, an international airport, commercial amenities, and military and police installations, which will be able to respond to any emergencies at once.
NGCP, the country’s sole power system operator and transmission service provider, uses the SCADA/EMS system in its day-to-day operations of the nationwide power grid. (PNA)
