NGCP seeks ERC approval for ancillary service deals

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

In separate filings, the grid operator asked the regulator to give the go-ahead to its ASPAs with SB Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc. (SNAP-MI), Therma Marine, Inc. (TMI), Ingrid Power h o ldings, Inc. (IP h I ), Therma Visayas, Inc. (TV), Therma Luzon, Inc. (TLI), and GNPower Kauswagan Ltd. Co. (GNPK).

Ancillary services support the transmission of power from generators to consumers to maintain reliable operations. These are necessary for NGCP to manage power fluctuations to ensure the quality and reliability of power flowing through its system. If not managed properly, fluctuations can cause damage to sensitive equipment, or even automatic load dropping (ALD) if the fluctuations are severe enough to pose a danger to the transmission system as a whole.

These ASPAs become effective upon approval by the e R C.

“NGCP has the mandate to procure the required AS. h o wever, the Commission must first approve the contract before the same can be implemented,” NGCP said.

Further, NGCP said the immediate approval of the ASPAs is needed to maintain the present reliability and security of the grid.

“As the demand for power in Luzon increases, the requirements of the system likewise increase. e n suring the integrity of the system is essential to protect the interests of the public. The absence of system reliability and stability will certainly discourage investments and growth.”

SNAP-MI owns and operates the 388MW Magat hydro power plant.

TMI owns and operates a100MW bunker diesel power plant in Davao de Oro. TLI is the independent power producer administrator of the 700MW Pagbilao coal power plant in Quezon.

TVI owns and operates a 354MW coal power plant in Toledo City, Cebu. They are all units of Aboitiz Power.

IP h I , a unit of AC e N Corp., owns and operates 162 modular diesel engine generating units, with a rated capacity of 180MW, in Pililia, Rizal.

GNPK, meanwhile, owns and operates the 4x138MW coal power plant in Lanao del Norte.

The duration of their ASPAs with NGCP is 5years. All ASPAs were signed on May 2.

NGCP is anticipating that a provisional approval for the said ASPAs would be out soon.

“The Philippine Transmission Grid shall be vulnerable to power interruptions resulting from an artificial lack of AS. Without an existing ASPA, NGCP cannot nominate power plants to provide the critical services.”

B1

The Securities and exchange Commission (SeC ) has ordered Baguio-based real estate firm Casa Infini Builders and Realty Co. Ltd., Ray education Directions Consultancy Services and their affiliated entities to stop soliciting investments from the public in the guise of real estate-related investments.

In an order dated June 8, the SeC d irected Casa Infini and its affiliated companies to stop offering and selling investments to the public without the necessary license from the SeC Firms include Ray e ducation, Casa Infini Realty Management Co. Ltd., Ray International Philippines Corp., doing business under the names Ray e ducation Directions Consultancy Services, Be Unrivaled Productions and Sine Cordillera and Casa Infini Properties and Development Corp. “[T]he [groups’] unauthorized investment-taking activities warrant the prompt issuance of a cease and desist order as it operates as a fraud to the public which, if unrestrained, will likely cause grave or irreparable injury or prejudice to the investing public,” SeC ’s order read.

The order also covers Jennylyn Galletes De Los Santos Floresca, Raffy Palangdan Floresca, Jovielyn Malonzo Mina, Jinky delos Santos Lontoc, Jacqueline Corel Melchor, Peter Omaweng Wasing, er ic M. Pineda, Jerick Bambi Sadernas and Kenjie Millar, along with others such as salesmen, solicitors, agents, uplines, enablers and influencer acting on behalf of the groups. VG Cabuag

ENHANCING PHL-ISRAEL TRADE

The Philippine Exporters

Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) and the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute (IEICI) signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue mutual interest in trade and economic development to help improve its bilateral trade worth about $534 million in goods last year. PHILEXPORT president Dr. Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. (seated, left) and IEICI Deputy Director General Sabine Segal (seated, right) signed the MOA representing the two organizations. (Standing, from left) NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the State of Israel Eli Cohen and Ambassador Yael Ravia-Zadok witnessed the signing rites at the the Israel-Philippines Business Forum last June 5 at New World Hotel in Makati City.