Key Takeaways:
- President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. led the ceremonial energization of the Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) sub-grids in the Visayas region.
- PBBM encouraged energy stakeholders to invest in the CNP sub-grids so the region can meet its energy demands.
- The CNP sub-grids are a milestone project of the National Grid Corporation Philippines.
- The CNP sub-grids address surging energy demands in the Western and Central Visayas region with a population of 16 million.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. encouraged private generators to invest in the Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) sub-grids during its Ceremonial Energization in Bacolod City on April 8, 2024.
The CNP sub-grids, or the CNP 230-kV Backbone Project is a milestone project from the National Grid Corporation Philippines (NGCP). Its objective is to strengthen the power grid, improving the reliability of energy transmission in the Cebu, Negros, and Panay regions.
The sub-grids are meant to address surging energy demands of these regions, and are expected to resolve the power supply challenges in the Negros and Panay regions, prioritizing energy resilience and reliability for residents, businesses, and public infrastructure.
Along with increased transfer capacity in the Cebu, Negros, and Panay islands, the sub-grids facilitate dispatch of excess capacities from Mindanao to help meet energy demands in the Visayas. These will also accommodate the construction of new power plants and substations in the area.
Integral to the advancement and economic growth of the Negros-Panay region, these sub-grids provide energy to its population of 16 million.
The 67.9B CNP 230-kV Backbone Project is composed of three sub-grids (CNP1, CNP2, and CNP3) and the Negros-Panay Interconnection project Line (NPIP2), a high-voltage transmission line connecting the three substations.
PBBM appealed to energy stakeholders by saying, “While the CNP is a major step forward, I implore all stakeholders in the Visayas to strategically identify suitable locations and host new baseload generation plants, as well as renewable energy and energy storage systems. This will bolster energy sufficiency and sustainability in Negros and Panay Islands.”
“The contributions of the two regions to our economy was a robust 2.24 million[Pesos] in 2022,” Marcos said. “As their population and economy expand, their power supply must too.”
What will prove crucial to this endeavor, the president said, is the collaboration of government agencies, local government units, as well as private landowners, in helping expedite permit issuance for energy projects and facilitating right-of-way acquisition for energy transmission lines and distribution systems.