NGCP aims to start VisMin grid components by January

DAVAO CITY — The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is targeting to start installing some components of the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP) by January 2019.
Mae Roselle L. Curiano, NGCP regional communications and public affairs officer, said the plan is to begin setting up converter stations, and install transmission lines and submarine cables, simultaneously in the Mindanao provinces of Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga del Norte.
The MVIP is a 355-kilometer power grid link that will connect the converter stations in Dumanjug, Cebu, and Lala, Zamboanga del Norte.
“For Cebu to Zamboanga del Norte, a submarine cable will be constructed from Cebu down to Dumanjug. From Dumanjug down to Santander then Santander to Dapitan then Dapitan to Lala, a submarine cable approximately about 92 kilometers will be constructed,” Ms. Curiano said in an interview.
The project will also have 350,000-kilovolt overhead transmission lines, which is the first in Mindanao.
“All affected municipalities and cities were all ready, including the provincial government units wherein we already informed them about the project and they all expressed support,” she said.
Ms. Curiano said pre-construction activities are now ongoing, including engineering and parcellary survey, valuation of the affected properties, negotiation with the property owners, and securing construction permits.
“Only after the parcellary survey can we negotiate (with the) landowners. We need to show to them that a portion of their property would be affected and it could be their property or house or crops,” she explained.
Ms. Curiano said they are optimistic of completing the project by the target 2020 deadline with faster implementation supported by the certificate of Energy Project of National Significance (EPNS) given by the Energy Investment Coordinating Council.
“If projects are given (a) certificate of significance, approval of permits should not take long,” she said. — Maya M. Padillo