The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is seeking approval from the Energy Regulatory Board (ERC) to build two interconnection projects from the Luzon mainland worth Php22.2 billion.
In a filing with the ERC, NGCP said it is pushing for the immediate approval of the proposed Php16.9 billion Batangas-Mindoro Interconnection Project, which would include the laying down of submarine cables, installation of overhead transmission lines, and the development of substations.
NGCP aims to finish the project in ten months. Upon completion, the grid firm hopes that Mindoro would be able to source adequate and reliable power supply and have access to more competitive generation sources in the Luzon Grid.
“With a reliable transmission backbone, Mindoro may export power through the development of renewable power in the province. This will fulfill the government’s direction of interconnecting off-grid areas to the main grid and will prepare the country for the planned ASEAN power grid interconnection,” NGCP said.
Mindoro’s power system is currently being operated by the National Power Corporation’s Small Power Utilities Group (NPC-SPUG) and distribution utilities (DUs) Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative and Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative.
With the forecasted demand increase for Mindoro island, the NGCP said the current source of power can no longer accommodate the future load requirements.
In another filing, NGCP is also proposing to put up the Php5.32 billion Quezon-Marinduque Interconnection Project, which will support the latter province’s power demands and the government’s economic plans and programs for the island province.
“The peak demand of Marinduque has already reached 11.56 megawatts. In a few years, the available capacity in Marinduque may no longer support its needs for both residential and business. To avoid this from happening, implementation of a long-term solution must commence as early as now,” the NGCP said in a separate filing.
The grid firm has set a 54-month or four and a half-year timeline for the project.
Marinduque is served by NPC-SPUG and DU Marinduque Electric Cooperative.