NGCP sets completion of ROW clearances, requirements for Mindanao power grid connection

MANILA, Philippines — The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is working to complete requirements and right of way (ROW) clearances to meet its end-2020 deadline to connect Mindanao to the rest of the power grid.

So far, the grid operator has awarded the contract to put up the submarine cable of the Mindanao-Visayas interconnection project (MVIP), NGCP chief financial officer Nanette Bugnosen said.

“The MVIP is underway. I hope we finish as scheduled. We have already awarded part of the submarine cable,” she said.

Bugnosen said construction works would start as soon as all permits and ROW are cleared.

“We are still negotiating with some local government units (LGUs) for the necessary permits to proceed with the work. We are also negotiating with some land owners for ROW clearance,” Bugnosen said.

Coinciding with the negotiations with LGUs and land owners, NGCP is also discussing with consultants to fasttrack the project to meet the deadline.

In October last year, the grid operator broke ground on cable terminal stations in the municipality of Santander, Cebu, and Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte of the MVIP.

The cable terminal stations serve as the landing points of the two 92-kilometer submarine cables which will carry around 450-megawatts (MW) of power from the Visayas and Mindanao, and vice versa.

Apart from the submarine cables and cable terminal stations, the MVIP also entails the installation of 526 circuit-kilometers of overhead transmission lines, high-voltage direct current converter stations, and various upgrades to substations in both regions.

The MVIP, provisionally approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in 2017, is considered the biggest power infrastructure project in the history of the country with an estimated project cost of P52 billion.

It was certified by the Department of Energy (DOE) as an energy project of national significance (EPNS).

An EPNS is a significant energy project for power generation, transmission, and/or ancillary services including those required to maintain grid stability and security.

NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid. It led by majority shareholders Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto Jr.