The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is set to complete its P5.48 billion facility in Aklan by 2024 to cater to the growing electricity demand of Boracay.
The company said with tourism leading the post-pandemic economic recovery, Boracay island is recording a spurt in visitor arrivals, which leads to increased activities projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels.
NGCP said grid expansion and development projects in the island would keep up with the increasing demand for power which will be resolved with the ongoing construction of the Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay 138 kiloVolt (kV) line.
NGCP said the existing facility and line serving Boracay is capable of serving a maximum power load of 27 megawatts (MW).
It said the current upgrade will allow the facilities to address the 175 MW projected load in the region by 2040.
“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 upgrading the existing 69 kV facilities to 138kV,” said NGCP, in a statement.
The project is comprised of several components: 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. – Jed Macapagal
