The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is targeting to complete the Cebu-Bohol 138-kilovolt interconnection, a project expected to cost the firm P10 billion, in 2020.

This was disclosed by NGCP officials led by regional communications chief Nelson Bautista during the corporation’s Power Forum on Thursday at the Metro Centre Hotel in Tagbilaran City.

According to NGCP communications officer Betty Martinez, pre-construction activities such as the hydrographic survey or the mapping of submarine cable route will commence in July this year.

The underwater cable will have 200-megawatt capacity and will cross the 30-kilometer stretch between Sibonga, Cebu and Loon, Bohol, the planned landing sites of the mammoth structure.

Martinez declared that the NGCP will not wait for the issuance of provisional authority from the Energy Regulatory Commission as the project’s first phase will commence in July with or without it.

However, the NGCP official admitted that several hurdles are expected to hamper progress in the construction of the facility such as possible delays in securing right of way at the proposed landing sites and overhead line routes which will cut across areas between Loon and the Corella substation.

Amid rising electricity demands in Bohol, the NGCP’s interconnection initiative is projected to address the province’s longstanding power woes from the largely unstable Leyte-sourced geothermal power. (Rey Tutas)