Power co-op vows submarine cable to Samal ready by 1st half 2022
THE P1.1-BILLION submarine cable project that is seen to stabilize power supply in Samal is expected to be operational within the first half of next year, according to the island’s city’s electricity distributor.
Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NORDECO) General Manager Mario Angelo Sotto said the materials for the project have started arriving after delays due to the coronavirus pandemic since last year.
Delivery of materials imported from Europe are “almost 100% complete,” he said in an online briefing on Wednesday.
Foreign experts are also expected to arrive within the year to work with local contractors. The project also covers the installation of substations.
Mr. Sotto said it will only take three to four months to install the submarine cable, which will have a carrying capacity of 50 megawatts (MW).
“The submarine cable will give power supply reliability… once it is connected to the (Mindanao main) grid, it will deliver a big supply of electricity to Samal,” he said.
Current infrastructure has a capacity for only 8 MW of supply to the island, which has more than 100 tourist resorts. — Maya M. Padillo
