NTDC achieves milestone in SCADA-III project with partial activation of new system

Lahore: The National Transmission & Dispatch Company (NTDC) has successfully achieved a milestone in the SCADA-III project with the partial activation of the new Control Room and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which has become partially live, installed at the National Power Control Centre (NPCC), Islamabad. 

The system was inaugurated by the Managing Director of NTDC, Engr. Muhammad Waseem Younas, and senior NTDC officers on Wednesday. 

Earlier, Chief Engineer of SCADA-III, Engr. Sumair Memon, briefed the management about the project. It was reported that 75% progress has been achieved so far, with the remaining work expected to be completed during the current year. The project reached this milestone on February 20, 2025, with the partial Go-Live of the new SCADA system at NPCC Islamabad. This state-of-the-art SCADA system has made 65 of the 166 stations live, with the remaining stations set to be integrated in the coming months as new communication links become available. 

During the inauguration ceremony, Engr. Muhammad Waseem Younas said, "This is a happy moment for all of us." Extending NTDC management’s heartfelt congratulations to all the teams involved in the implementation of the SCADA-III project, he stated that the SCADA-III project will bring numerous benefits to NTDC and the national grid. He further explained that the advanced SCADA system allows real-time monitoring and control of grid stations, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the power transmission network. This ensures the prompt detection and resolution of faults in the transmission network, minimizing downtime and improving overall grid performance. 

He emphasized that the project team should complete the remaining work within the set timelines and assured that the issues faced by the team would be resolved soon, with management providing full support in all aspects. 

In addition to SCADA deployment, the project includes the implementation of an Energy Management System (EMS) and Generation Management System (GMS). These systems enable optimized energy distribution and generation management, leading to more efficient use of resources and reduced operational costs. The project also includes the installation of 3,600 km of Optical Ground Wire (OPGW), of which 3,300 km has been completed, as well as the deployment of telecom equipment such as SDH, DPLC, and PABX, and the establishment of a microwave backup communication link between NPCC and the Backup Control Center (BCC). These enhancements, scheduled for completion during 2025, will ensure robust communication and data transmission across the network. 

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 and Public Relations) Muhammad Ibrahim, Chief Engineer (Operation Planning) Engr. Muhammad Zakria, Chief Engineer (Network Operation) Engr. Ijaz Ali, Chief Engineer Asset Management (North) Islamabad, Engr. Shoaib Khan, other senior NTDC officers, and representatives from Hitachi, CMEC, and SAGE Automation were present on the occasion.