Cebu-Negros-Panay: NGCP targets to complete backbone project by 2020

CEBU, Philippines — The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines is eyeing to complete the Cebu-Negros-Panay transmission backbone project by late 2020.

During the recent Visayas Energy Investment Forum, Christian Ereño, regional transmission planning manager at NGCP, said the grid operator remained committed to complete the transmission project in December 2020.

This despite the challenges NGCP has faced such as getting permits from local governments and the right of way issue.

He noted the testing of the six cable lines will be completed by July this year.

The Cebu-Negros-Panay backbone project, which is expected to generate 230kV electricity, will be implemented via submarine cables interconnecting Negros and Cebu, traversing Tañon Strait crossing from Barangay Talavera, Toledo City to Barangay San Isidro, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.

This backbone project is aimed at improving the power sharing in these islands.

The Cebu-Negros-Panay line will give an additional transmission capacity of 800 MW between Negros and Cebu.

Last March 8, the Infrastructure Development Committee of the Regional Development Council passed a resolution, recommending the council to request President Duterte to intervene in the Cebu-Bohol interconnection and Cebu-Negros-Panay backbone projects and include it in the “energy projects of national significance.”

The two projects are among the significant projects included in NGCP’s 2019-2040 Transmission Development Plan.

NGCP is privately-owned firn in charge of operating and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto Jr. (FREEMAN)