NGCP inaugurates Cebu-Negros-Panay 230kV Backbone

CEBU CITY – The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) held a simultaneous ceremonial energization and inauguration of its newly completed Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) 230-kiloVolt (kV) Backbone on April 8 at NGCP’s Bacolod Substation in Negros Occidental, led by His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., and at NGCP’s Barotac Viejo Substation in Iloilo and Magdugo Substation in Cebu with other key national and local government officials in attendance.

NGCP, in a press statement said, this milestone represents a significant step towards ensuring a stable transmission grid in the Philippines as the company worked consistently to meet its commitment to provide a reliable electricity infrastructure for the nation. 

“The Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) backbone is a testament to our dedication to enhancing the power transmission capabilities of our country and we are honored to lead and witness its completion,” the statement reads.

NGCP bared that as early as 2013, the project was filed for approval with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in four stages. The CNP Stage 3 was filed in 2016 with a project cost of P43.41 billion.  However, ERC granted a provisional approval for only one year’s worth of capital expenditure amounting to P176.75 million in 2017 and has yet to issue a final approval.

NGCP added that the total cost of the entire CNP backbone project as filed with the ERC is now at P67.98 billion with Line 2 of the Negros-Panay Interconnection Project still pending approval by ERC. 

The Cebu-Negros-Panay Backbone which also include the Negros-Panay Interconnection Project Line 2, is comprised of three stages, the last of which was completed on March 27, 2024.

The CNP complements the existing Amlan-Samboan submarine cable which is currently utilized to connect Cebu and Negros islands. The first stage of the CNP Project added a new 230kV transmission line from Bacolod to E.B Magalona, while the 2nd stage upgraded the Cebu Substation into 230kV level.

According to NGCP, the CNP is comprised of 670 transmission towers spanning 442 circuit kilometers of overhead lines; 98.9 circuit kilometers of submarine cables with 10 new substations and the expansion of two existing major substations.

“While the CNP will help improve the delivery of power, this is not the sole or primary solution to the woes of power consumers, particularly in Panay. Sufficient power generation supported by reliable transmission is the formula for optimized energy development. This will support the country’s push towards economic recovery,” NGCP said. (Photos/PR: NGCP/Michael Ligalig)