The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has accomplished the successful energization of the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP). Valued at PHP 52 billion ($933 million), the project aims at enhancing power stability and reliability throughout the country.
On April 30, 2023, the high-voltage submarine and overhead lines facilitated the initial transfer of 22.5 MW from Mindanao to Visayas during the energization process. NGCP has outlined its plans to gradually increase the MVIP’s transfer capacity, reaching 50 MW by mid-May and 112 MW by the end of the month. Ultimately, the project is expected to operate at its full transfer capacity of 450 MW by the third quarter of this year.
The MVIP consists of a 184 circuit-kilometer (ckm) High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) submarine transmission line, which establishes a connection between the power grids of Mindanao and Visayas, with a transfer capacity of 450 MW that can be expanded to 900 MW. Additionally, converter stations have been established in both regions, and more than 500 ckm of overhead lines have been installed to facilitate the smooth flow of electricity.
Consumers will greatly benefit from the implementation of the MVIP, as it provides them with a more reliable and sustainable power transmission service, thereby reducing instances of power interruptions. Moreover, the project fosters energy resource sharing, enabling excess power generated in one region to be transmitted to the other.
In 2022, several components of the MVIP were completed, including the Lala-Aurora 138kV Transmission Line, the 350kV Submarine Cable, and the Cable Terminal Stations in Santander, Cebu, and Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte. NGCP is actively working on completing the remaining elements of the project and plans to scale up the transfer capacity of the facility in the coming months.
