BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The target completion date of the much-awaited 23-kilovolt (kV) Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) backbone project stage 3 is on time.
Once completed by the end of March, the transmission project is expected to upgrade the capacity of the existing submarine cable and improve sharing of excess power generation from the rest of the grid towards Negros and Panay islands.
Mayor Jerry Treñas met on Thursday, March 21, with energy stakeholders and decision-makers and discussed the immediate and long-term solutions to the power shortage on Panay Island.
Treñas said they tackled the need for in-island ancillary reserve power. He said that MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) has assured its readiness to contract with the Global Power Corporation to provide reserve power for the city and the rest of the region.
The necessary approvals are provided by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the rates are fixed by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) so the consumers will not be affected.
“These developments will ensure that there will be sufficient power that will be provided to sustain the rapid development of Iloilo City,” said Treñas.
Representatives of DOE will prepare a briefing to their top management on the situation to hasten the implementation of the matter, the city mayor said.
Officials from the DOE, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), ERC, MORE Power, Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC), and Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC) attended the meeting.
During the forum on March 7, energy stakeholders were briefed about the existing limitations of the Panay Grid that make it more susceptible to grid blackouts.
These limitations include insufficient power supply, inadequate protection coordination settings between NGCP, power plants, and distribution utilities, and delayed completion of Cebu-Negros-Panay Interconnection.
That limits the capacity of power import of Panay from Negros grid thru the existing 138 kV Negros-Panay submarine cable resulting in long duration Panay grid blackout.
Likewise, the ancillary services or standby reserve of NGCP for the Visayas from Cebu could not augment in Panay during a blackout due to the absence of an N-1 or alternate grid connection in Panay Island.
Meanwhile, energy stakeholders also gathered for the Power Up Western Visayas Energy Forum at the Diversion 21 Hotel in Mandurriao district.
In his welcome remark, Mayor Treñas said the recurring power outages across Western Visayas have underscored the pressing need to tackle the energy challenges.
“These disruptions have not only caused inconvenience to many but also significantly affected businesses and livelihoods,” said Treñas.
He expressed his gratitude to the organizers of the event for facilitating such a platform, gathering stakeholders all over the region to engage in open and constructive dialogue.
“Our collaboration, idea-sharing, and concerted efforts are imperative as we strive to develop solutions. By advancing policy recommendations and exploring potential investment opportunities, I am confident that this forum will pave the way for a more secure and sustainable energy future for Western Visayas,” said Treñas./PN
