BACOLOD City – Energization of the Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) sub-grids is “a big step” to address the power supply problems plaguing most especially Panay Island, according to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Lead the ceremonial energization of the CNP 230-kV Backbone Project here yesterday, the President also encouraged energy stakeholders and private generators to invest in the Negros and Panay energy infrastructure to meet the region’s long term-term power demands as well as boost development.
No region can be an economic powerhouse without reliable power supply, he stressed.
“While the CNP is a major step forward, I implore all stakeholders in the Visayas to strategically identify suitable locations and host new base-load generation plants, as well as renewable energy and energy storage systems,” said President Marcos.
The P67.9-billion CNP 230-kV Backbone Project, composed of CNP1, CNP2, CNP3 and Negros-Panay Interconnection Project Line 2 (NPIP L2), is intended to strengthen the grid and improve the reliability of power transmission in the islands of Cebu, Negros and Panay.
It involved the construction of a high-voltage transmission line and associated substations to connect the islands of Cebu, Negros, and Panay.
The newly energized CPN project will allow the increased transfer capacity among Cebu, Negros, and Panay islands and the dispatch of excess capacities from Mindanao to meet the demand in the Visayas grid.
It will also accommodate the development of new power plants in the Visayas grid.
“I encourage private generators to invest in the Negros and Panay sub-grids so that the region can meet its energy demands and ensure self-sufficiency in the long run,” said the President.
This will bolster energy sufficiency and sustainability in Negros and Panay islands, he explained.
Marcos pressed for the collaboration of government agencies, local government units, and private landowners, particularly in expediting permit issuance for energy projects and facilitating the acquisition of the right-of-way for transmission lines and distribution systems.
He said the completion of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ (NGCP) project is a milestone in the country’s pursuit to enhance the energy resilience and reliability, as it resolves the power supply challenges that have plagued the Negros and Panay sub-grids, which have caused serious regional economic setbacks.
NGCP, the country’s sole transmission service provider, is a fully private corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grids. It is responsible for ensuring reliable and efficient electric power from generation to distribution utilities and grid connected loads.
According to the President, the CNP will also address the surging energy demands in the area and propel the socioeconomic advancement of Western and Central Visayas considering its about 16 million population.
“The contribution of the two regions to our economy was a robust 2.24 trillion pesos in 2022,” Marcos said.
As their population and economy expand, their power supply must too, the President explained.
Aside from leading the ceremonial energization of the Backbone Project at the Bacolod Substation, the President also conducted an aerial inspection of the Bacolod-Gahit Transmission Line and site inspection of the Bacolod Substation. (With a report from PND)/PN
