Power supply in Aklan is expected to improve with the grid enhancement and the expansion of a wind power project in the province.
“…Increased access to reliable power is vital for our future growth and development. It will pave the way for additional investments in Aklan that will eventually result in local jobs and additional business taxes, which can fund social services and development projects for the people of Aklan,” said Selwyn Ibarreta, Aklan provincial administrator, in a statement over the weekend.
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the enhancement to be undertaken by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and the 13.2-megawatts (MW) expansion of the Nabas wind power project of PetroWind Energy Inc. (PWEI)
Ibarreta said PWEI’s commissioning of its Nabas-2 wind power project earlier this year and the scheduled completion of the Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay 138 kiloVolt (kV) transmission project next year, will further improve the economy of Aklan which recently attained first- class provincial classification.
NGCP’s P4.2 billion Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay 138 kV transmission project is intended to address overloading issues in the existing Nabas-Caticlan 69kV transmission line, the Caticlan-Boracay submarine cable and the Manoc-Manoc 69kV load end substation.
When completed next year, the project will help bridge power more efficiently in Panay and Visayas, including the additional power supply from Nabas-2.
Johann Ken Juguan, Nabas municipal planning and development officer, said improved power services will support the operations of a planned health facility, a new tourism center and the new terminal building of the Boracay airport by 2026.
Ariel Gepty, Aklan Electric Cooperative Inc. acting general manager, said the projects are “vital” in improving grid stability and help reduce power interruptions. “…We are fully aware that whenever there are power interruptions, local businesses, especially the small ones, are affected. Therefore, we need to support the completion of this NGCP transmission and facility enhancement and PWEI’s wind farm expansion,” Gepty said.
