(The Philippine Star) | Updated April 30, 2017 -
12:00am
MANILA, Philippines -
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is seeking industry and
public support as it has filed an application for the implementation of the
Visayas-Mindanao Interconnection Project (VMIP) in support of the government’s
priority program on island interconnections.
The application for
provisional authority (PA) is the result of an NGCP-commissioned hydrographic
survey conducted from September to November 2016.
“NGCP submitted to the
Energy Regulatory Commission its application for the implementation of the
VMIP. This comes after years of research and careful planning. Finding the
safest and most viable route for the project was a long and tedious process,
given the many challenges that faced us, like unexploded ordinances, fault
lines, and submarine volcanic activity. We needed to be careful and sure, as
this is going to be the biggest project in the history of the Philippine power
industry,” the grid operator said in a statement.
Earlier studies on the
project, which focused on the eastern route from Leyte to Surigao, revealed
various obstacles including live ordinance (torpedoes and high explosive
shells) from the Battle of Surigao in 1944, an underwater volcano, fault lines
and seismic hazards such as unstable rock slabs.
The results of previous
feasibility studies before NGCP took over transmission operations prompted the
company to look for alternative routes.
Based on the new survey
results, the most viable route is beginning in Cebu and terminating in
Dipolog.
NGCP has made
subsequent preparations including the conceptual design, detailed
cost-estimate, and update of the system simulation study using the Cebu-Dipolog
route in the ERC application, while inland and route surveys for substations
and overhead transmission lines were simultaneously being conducted.
“As soon as ERC grants
us the provisional authority, NGCP will immediately put into motion plans that
will lead to the eventual unification of the country’s three main grids.
Barring any delays, we hope to get this done by 2020,” it said.
NGCP sought the support
of the public and its stakeholders, especially communities that will be
traversed by the project, given the magnitude and potential impact of this
undertaking.
“We want this completed
on-time, making sure that quality of power transmission lines, facilities and
services is not compromised. NGCP needs the full support of the government,
Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy, Department of Environment
and Natural Resources, and the different local government units to ensure its
timely and quality implementation,” the grid operator said.
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