THE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has applied with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to install more submarine cable links for the Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) 230-kilovolt backbone project.
“We applied for an additional submarine cable last year. We applied with the ERC to build submarine cable lines 3 and 4 (for) additional capacity,” NGCP Spokesperson Cynthia P. Alabanza told reporters on the sidelines of a facility launch in Bacolod City on Monday.
The CNP backbone, which includes the Negros-Panay Interconnection Project Line 2, is composed of three stages, the last of which was completed on March 24.
The third stage of the project, known as CNP3, links the islands of Negros and Cebu via overhead lines from Bacolod City to San Carlos City in Negros Occidental and a submarine cable to Toledo City in Cebu.
Overall, the project consists of 670 transmission towers spanning 442 circuit kilometers, 98.9 circuit kilometers of submarine cables, 10 new substations and the expansion of two major substations.
“CNP strengthens the link between three major islands of the Visayas, and will provide a more reliable transfer of power to support the fast-growing economies of the provinces in Cebu, Negros, and Panay,” NGCP President and CEO Anthony L. Almeda said.
“This development will not only bolster the efficiency of our electricity system but also contribute to the overall economic growth and well-being of our nation,” he added.
Ms. Alabanza said power generation should keep up with the developments in transmission capacity.
“(Transmission) should be accompanied by proper development of (generating capacity) on each island so that we do not rely on sharing,” she said.
“We are hoping for the policy makers and regulators of immediate approval so that we can proceed with the project… will ensure that we stay ahead of the curve,” she said.
The NGCP said that CNP3 Stage 3 application was filed in 2016 with a project cost of P43.41 billion. However, the ERC granted provisional approval for only one year’s worth of capital expenditure amounting to P176.75 million in 2017 and “has yet to issue final approval.”
The total cost of the entire CNP backbone project as filed with the ERC amounts to P67.98 billion.
While certified as an energy project of national significance in 2019, the NGCP said that CNP3 encountered difficulties in acquiring right of way. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera
