NTDC achieves key milestone in SCADA-III project

LAHORE: The National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) has achieved a significant milestone in the SCADA-III project with the partial activation of the new Control Room and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system at the National Power Control Centre (NPCC), Islamabad.

The system was inaugurated by NTDC Managing Director Engr Muhammad Waseem Younas along with senior NTDC officials. Earlier, Chief Engineer SCADA-III Engr. Sumair Memon briefed the management on the project’s progress, informing them that 75% of the work had been completed, with the remainder expected to be finished within the year.On February 20, 2025, the project reached a key milestone with the partial go-live of the new SCADA system at NPCC Islamabad.

This state-of-the-art system has so far integrated 65 out of 166 stations, with the remaining stations set to be added in the coming months as new communication links become available.During the inauguration ceremony, Engr. Muhammad Waseem Younas described the achievement as a proud moment for NTDC. He extended the management’s heartfelt congratulations to all teams involved in the implementation of the SCADA-III project and highlighted its numerous benefits to NTDC and the national grid.

He emphasised that the advanced SCADA system will provide real-time monitoring and control of grid stations, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the power transmission network. This will ensure prompt fault detection and resolution, minimise downtime, and significantly improve overall grid performance. He urged the project team to complete the remaining work within the set timeline and assured them that any challenges would be addressed with full management support. In addition to SCADA deployment, the project includes the implementation of an Energy Management System (EMS) and Generation Management System (GMS), which will optimise energy distribution and generation management, leading to more efficient resource utilisation and reduced operational costs.

The project also entails the installation of 3,600 km of Optical Ground Wire (OPGW), of which 3,300 km has been completed. Other key components include the deployment of telecom equipment such as SDH, DPLC, and PABX, as well as the establishment of a microwave backup communication link between NPCC and the Backup Control Centre (BCC). These enhancements, scheduled for completion in 2025, will strengthen communication and data transmission across the network.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Deputy Managing Director (P&E) Engr. Qaiser Khan, Deputy Managing Director (AD&M) Engr. Rasheed A. Bhutto, General Manager (D&E) Engr. Dr. Khawaja Riffat Hassan, General Manager (SO) Engr. Nasir Ahmed, General Manager (Media & Public Relations) Muhammad Ibrahim, Chief Engineer (Operation Planning); Engr. Muhammad Zakria, Chief Engineer (Network Operation); Engr. Ijaz Ali, Chief Engineer Asset Management (North) Islamabad; and Engr. Shoaib Khan, along with other senior NTDC officers and representatives from Hitachi, CMEC, and SAGE Automation.