NGCP energizes P51.3-b project, unifies Visayas, Mindanao grids
By Alena Mae S. Flores – January 26, 2024, 9:35 pm
from manilastandard.net
Transmission operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said Friday it fully energized the P51.3-billion Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP) to unify the Philippine grid.
NGCP conducted a simultaneous ceremonial switch-on in Manila, Cebu and Lanao del Norte to mark the successful full energization of the MVIP, the largest investment for a single transmission backbone project or high voltage direct current transmission project.
“I’m pleased to finally see the energization of 450-megawatt (MW) MVIP. It is the first time in the history of our nation that the three major power grids those of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao our now physically connected. A 184-circuit kilometer high voltage direct current submarine cable with the transfer capacity of 450 MW now connects the Mindanao and Visayas Grids via Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte and Santander in Cebu,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said.
“This infrastructure allows the power generated in Mindanao to supply our homes and establishments in Visayas and now all the way to Luzon and vice versa. Indeed this interconnection will unlock enormous socio economic development potential for both Visayas and Mindanao. The realization of our one nation, one grid aspiration is definitely crucial turning point for this country in ensuring reliable power at all the time,” he said.
NGCP president and chief executive Anthony Almeda said the full commercial operations of MVIP “is the culmination of almost 40 years of vision, studies and surveys and finally construction and energization of the MVIP under NGCP.”
“This is a testament of our dedication and commitment to fulfilling our mandate of improving, upgrading, expanding and enforcing the Philippine power grid. NGCP is honored to complete this landmark energy project under the leadership and guidance of our president,” Almeda said.
Almeda said NGCP infused over P300 billion in grid expansion, construction of new substations, installation of more transmission lines and upgrading existing facilities.
Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla thanked Marcos “for relentlessly pushing for the completion of the Mindanao Visayas Interconnection Project and other major transmission projects.”
“In the early months of your term, you will recall that you prioritize the transmission of existing power supplies to where they were needed. Without transmission lines from new power generation plants to the grid, their available capacity would have been wasted or stranded,” Lotilla said.
NGCP said it is honored to operationalize this landmark energy project conceptualized during then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and now fully realized under the leadership and guidance of the administration of his son and namesake, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“This event marks the successful energization at full capacity of this monumental undertaking, a vision of unifying the grid proudly coming to fruition under NGCP,” the company said.
The MVIP consists of a 184 circuit-kilometer high-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine transmission line connecting the power grids of Mindanao and Visayas with a transfer capacity of 450 MW expandable to as much as 900 MW. The project also includes converter stations in both regions and more than 500 circuit kilometers of overhead lines to facilitate the flow of electricity.
