THE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines is set to construct an 80 kilometer 230 kilo-volts (kv) Matanao-Toril-Bunawan Transmission in the next two years in a bid to accommodate the additional power supply coming to the Mindanao grid in the coming years.
"The project will provide additional high voltage corridor for the upcoming power plants in the northern and southern parts of Mindanao," said Eulalio De Guzman, officer-in-charge for NGCP's Social Engineering Section, Project Acceptability, and Right-of-way (Row) Management Division, during the Power Forum of NGCP at Apo View Hotel Tuesday, March 7.
He also said the project will allow the full dispatch of new large capacity power plants.
Fernando Javier, NGCP Mindanao systems planning division chief, said in the next two years, large capacity coal-fired plants are expected to fully operate in Mindanao.
Among these plants are the 540 megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant on GN Power Kauswagan Ltd. Co. in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, the 405 MW circulating-fluidized bed coal-fired power plant of FDC Utilities in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental, the 200 MW coal-fired power plant of the Sarangani Energy Corporaion in Maasim, Sarangani, and 600 MW Davao Power project of San Miguel Consolidated Power Corporation in Malita, Davao del Sur.
De Guzman said the new transmission line will improve the overall stability, reliability, and efficiency of power transmission services.
The construction is targeted to start in 2018. The project will include the construction of an 80km of double circuit 230kV overhead lines and the expansion of substations in Matanao, Davao del Sur and Toril and Bunawan, Davao City.
The project will be traversing 44 villages across Davao City and Davao del Sur.
Last year, NGCP has started the pre-construction works for the project by securing an Environmental Compliance Certificate from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the conduct of the parcellary survey.
By 2018, NGCP hopes to be able to secure the Special Land Use Permit from the Forest Management Bureau and the Special Permit to Cut Trees from DENR and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-Cenro). Then by 2019, the grid operator targets to complete the Right of Way Acquisition.
The grid operator hopes to receive the notice to proceed for the project in 2018. The construction of the project is targeted to begin in 2019 while the completion is expected to be in the same year.