NGCP: P5.48B Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay line to be completed by 2024

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said Wednesday the construction of a new submarine cable connecting  Boracay Island to the power grid will be completed in the next two years, which will be supporting the growing power requirements of the island destination.

In a statement, the NGCP said the Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay 138-kilovolt line is now undergoing construction and is expected to be completed by 2024.

The grid operator said the new line will be its long-term solution for Boracay amid increased activity projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels in the island.

It said that “there is a need for grid expansion and development projects to keep up with the increasing demand for power.”

“The existing 69-kV submarine cable and overhead line serving the island is no longer adequate to support load growth in the coming years. Under the project, NGCP will reinforce the grid with an additional submarine cable and upgrade the existing 69kV facilities to 138kV,” the NGCP said.

“With an Energy Regulatory Commision-approved cost of P5.48 billion, the project was certified as an Energy Project of National Significance (EPNS) by the Department of Energy (DOE) in 2019,” it said.

The entire project consists of several components, namely underground and submarine cables connecting the mainland to Boracay Island, overhead transmission lines, a cable terminal station, a new Boracay Substation, and an upgraded Nabas Substation.

“The Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay transmission line project will support the increasing power requirements of the island and ensure stable and reliable transmission of power. NGCP will support the island’s growth and help ensure the development of Boracay as one of the world’s best travel destinations by providing the necessary energy infrastructure,” the grid operator said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News