NGCP upgrades Aklan facilities

MANILA, Philippines — The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is upgrading its transmission facilities in Aklan to improve the network’s resiliency in the province and to meet the growing power requirements of the province, particularly Boracay.

NGCP said it is reinforcing its power transmission services in Aklan with the construction of its Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay 138-kiloVolt (kV) transmission line project since the area is currently being served by a single 69-kV line.

The project, estimated to cost P4.27 billion, is expected to be completed by March 2021, barring delays.

Boracay Island is projected to see continuous growth in power consumption, according to Aklan Electric Cooperative Inc. (AKELCO), the electric cooperative servicing the area.

This requires an additional power transmission avenue to be built to secure the stability and continuous flow of power to residents and businesses in the area.

NGCP said the new line would traverse through the municipalities of Nabas and Malay.

The project includes the construction of a new 138-kV submarine cable between Caticlan and Boracay in order to support the existing line and to increase the resiliency of the transmission system to and from the island.

An underground 69-kV transmission line from Boracay to Manoc-manoc, and another 138-kV transmission line from Caticlan to Nabas will also be built to add to the amount of power flowing to these areas, and secure the integrity of the transmission system.

NGCP will also simultaneously upgrade its Nabas and Boracay substations to accommodate the increase in power capacity.

 Last Oct. 1, NGCP met with Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to ask support for the Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay project and the upgrade of the Nabas and Boracay substations.

It also sought for the expedition of environmental permits such as environmental compliance certificates, tree cutting permits, and special land use permits for critical projects such as the Cebu-Negros-Panay transmission line project, and the Mindanao-Visayas interconnection project.

Acknowledging the need for uninterrupted power throughout the country, Cimatu expressed his support to NGCP’s programs and operations in the newly-opened Boracay Island.  NGCP, on the other hand, pledged to fully comply to all requirements of DENR.

NGCP continues to appeal to the local government of Aklan, national government units, energy stakeholders in the area, and the public, to continue to support the project for its swift, uninterrupted, and timely completion.