NGCP ready to speed up Mindoro-Panay transmission
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines is open to fast-tracking the Mindoro-Panay interconnection project in the medium term to boost power supply in the Visayas.
Manila, Philippines — The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is open to accelerating the Mindoro-Panay interconnection project, according to a spokesperson. While initially not planned for the medium term, the grid operator is "100 percent willing" to expedite implementation. Cynthia Alabanza stated that if the previous plan had deferred the project to 2040, NGCP is now considering accelerating timelines due to current conditions in Visayas.
The Mindoro-Panay interconnection will link Visayas to the Batangas-Mindoro transmission link, creating a critical loop between Luzon and Visayas. This will allow additional power to flow between the two grids, providing greater flexibility during periods of tight supply and plant outages, and helping meet growing electricity needs in Visayas.
The Visayas grid currently relies on electricity imports from Luzon and Mindanao, making the region vulnerable during limited power availability. Brownouts have threatened Visayas since May, as high demand coincides with the shutdown of several large coal-fired power plants. If the government proceeds with advancing the Mindoro-Panay project, Luzon's power planning may also require revision.
Alabanza noted that the entire balance would change, potentially overhauling Luzon's planning if daily exports to Visayas become a regular occurrence.
Written by urgent.news from Philippine Star Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
