16 transmission projects of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) that were considered Energy Projects of National Significance (EPNS) are delayed, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian revealed.
In a report by the Manila Bulletin, Gatchalian said that as of March 2023, only six out of the 16 projects have been completed, which accounts for a completion rate of 37.5%. However, the NGCP has been collecting fees even before the full completion of these projects.
Gatchalian explained that the negative thing in this situation is that they have already collected fees for these projects which have yet to be fully completed.
He filed Senate Resolution No. 616, calling on the appropriate Senate committee to investigate the delays in the development of electric transmission facilities and the provision of transmission services by the NGCP. The investigation aims to address these issues and ensure a stable power supply in the country.
The inability of NGCP to complete these projects within the designated time frame resulted in significant delays in the establishment and functioning of generation facilities, ultimately impacting the electricity supply in the country, Gatchalian noted.
Moreover, the execution of EPNS projects has experienced an average of three years in delay, and the projects that are still unfinished have been delayed for a total of five years.
He highlighted the significance of the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project, which, once finished, would enable the country to operate on a unified grid. Originally slated to commence in December 2020, the project aims to deliver a capacity of 450 megawatts (MW).
Additionally, there is the Cebu-Negros-Panay 230 kilovolts (kV) Backbone Stage 3 Project, initially scheduled for completion in December 2020. The project would have increased the capacity from 200 MW to 800 MW for efficient power transmission in the region.
The Hermosa-San Jose 500 kV Transmission Line Project, originally targeted for completion in 2019, aimed to alleviate congestion in the Bataan Corridor, allowing for a capacity of 4,700 MW.
Gatchalian further stressed that under the Transmission Development Plan (TDP), out of the 168 projects, where 56 are in the pre-construction stage, only 30 have been completed while 138 projects are delayed.
In a statement, NGCP said that the projects will be completed by 2023.
“NGCP’s PhP 300 Billion grid expansion, reinforcement, and upgrading initiatives from 2009 to present, as well as those in the pipeline, are meticulously planned by our engineers and updated year after year with careful consideration for the needs of every single area in the country,” NGCP said.