Japanese company, NEA to pilot advanced electricity distribution system in Batangas

January 31, 2018

Tokyo Electric Power Company and its affiliate firm Takaoka Toko Co., Ltd (TKTK) partnered with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) for a pilot project to roll out a smart grid technology to help the Philippines improve its ability in preventing power interruptions or blackouts.

The project will be implemented under a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) collaboration program with private sector for disseminating Japanese technologies for electricity distribution and management, JICA Manila said in a statement Wednesday.

Recently, JICA Senior Representative Tetsuya Yamada and TKTK General Manager Ichiro Sumitani presented the implementation plan before Administrator Edgardo Masongsong of NEA to jumpstart the project. 

The plan is to pilot an advanced electricity distribution system and smart grid technology in Batangas II Electric Cooperative, Inc.

“We recognize the importance of stable energy supply to attract more investments in the Philippines. By sharing Japanese technology and expertise, we hope that we can help boost the global competitiveness of the Philippines particularly in energy infrastructure,” said JICA Senior Representative Tetsuya Yamada. 

Data from NEA shows that the Electric Cooperatives in the Philippines experienced 15.9 times system power interruption on average in 2014 and at longer durations. Likewise, the Philippines ranked 92 among 137 countries surveyed in the energy infrastructure indicator in the Global Competitiveness Index 2017, lower than its counterparts in the ASEAN region. 

The project envisions a reliable energy supply system in the Philippines which would also encourage private investments in the future. 

Capacity building of NEA personnel will also be part of the project. 

Since 2013, JICA has been implementing several projects under the collaboration program with private sector for spreading Japanese technologies to help address development challenges. DMS