New NAIA Infra, Meralco partner for power reliability

New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the private operator of the country’s main gateway, has partnered with the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to ensure power reliability that will be able to handle the demands of modern aviation.

Under the partnership, Meralco said it will build a new 115 kilovolt (kV) to 34.5 kV gas insulated substation (GIS) which will provide power to the four terminals of NAIA.

This will complement the existing NAIA-3 substation that will provide two 83-megavolt-ampere (MVA) transformer banks, and six 34.5-kV underground feeders.

“The conceptual design of the new substation has been completed, with construction starting in the third quarter of 2025 and full completion targeted for December 2026,” Meralco said in an emailed statement.

Meralco said it is also working with the NNIC to implement an underground power distribution network that will align with the airport’s operational needs through 2026. Field surveys and data are set to begin this month.

Meralco’s subsidiary MSERV will install a 4900-kilovolt-ampere (KVA) uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system across six critical locations, including NAIA Terminal 3 and the airfield.

“This will be a step towards NNIC’s goal of transforming our country’s vital gateway into a world-class facility. We look forward to fostering a long-term partnership with NNIC, under the exceptional leadership of Mr. Ramon S. Ang,” Meralco chairman and chief executive officer Manuel Pangilinan said.

“Together, we will power a brighter tomorrow rich with opportunities and advancements — not only for our companies but for the country we proudly serve,” he added.

NNIC, made up of San Miguel Holdings Corp., RMM Asian Logistics Inc., RLW Aviation Development Inc., and Incheon International Airport Corp., took over NAIA on September 14, 2024.

“Years of underinvestment have left NAIA struggling to meet the demands of a modern airport. With Meralco as our partner, we are addressing power reliability as a top priority, alongside operational improvements such as decongesting traffic within the airport, widening roads, mitigating flooding, and replacing faulty equipment,” NNIC president Ramon Ang said.

NAIA in February experienced a series of power interruptions, as part of a month-long upgrade to its facilities.

The airport also experienced a series of power outages in 2023, affecting some 9,000 passengers during the Labor Day, and canceling, diverting, or delaying at least 282 flights and affecting 56,000 passengers on New Year’s Day.

Previously called SMC SAP & Co. Consortium, the NNIC in March inked a P170.6-billion concession agreement with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to take over NAIA after it offered the highest share of its future revenues from operating the gateway to the government.

The group committed at least P122.3 billion in capital investments for the entire 25-year concession period, equivalent to P4.89 billion per year. It would need to make an upfront payment of P30 billion to the government, and another P2 billion in annual payments for the duration of the contract.—AOL, GMA Integrated News