The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is working to have the Php 52 billion Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP) operating at its full capacity by the year’s end, citing a “final component” left to be powered.
In a report by the Inquirer, NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza said only 225 megawatts (MW), or 50%, of MVIP’s 450 MW capacity are being utilized.
Once the project operates at its full capacity, it will be able to supply a total of 450,000 households.
Alabanza explained that the corporation is in the process of completing the remaining components this month, with the final component to be energized before the year’s end.
Earlier, the MVIP linked Mindanao to the national grid, allowing the country’s three main islands to finally share power.
Construction of the MVIP began in 2017. This year, a 185-circuit-kilometer submarine transmission line allowed the facility to commence operations at 22.5 MW of capacity.
Subsequently, the Santander and Dapitan cable terminal stations were established in June, and in September, the Magdugo-Dumanjug 230 kV line was also put into operation.
The construction schedule of this project along with other transmission line projects encountered delays that were recently met with scrutiny.
Alabanza pointed out that, despite the COVID-19 constraints, the deadline was still shorter than the global average of seven to ten years for completion.
MVIP was supposed to be finished in December 2020, however, COVID-19 lockdowns made NGCP delay the initial phase of its operations to this year.