THE completion of the Hermosa-San Jose (HSJ) 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line is now back on schedule, according to the National Grid Corp. the Philippines (NGCP).

This, as the Supreme Court lifted on April 28 the temporary restraining order (TRO) it issued over the portion of the project. NGCP received the TRO in July 2023.

After nine months of delay, the NGCP said this development will allow them to push through with the last stages of stringing to complete the project critical to secure transmission services in Luzon.

"We are happy that the Supreme Court thoroughly studied the case and found no merit in the petitions filed against NGCP. This will enable us to complete the remaining portion of the HSJ, which will better serve the bulk generation coming in from Bataan," NGCP said.

The HSJ was initially energized on May 27, 2023 to accommodate power generation from Bataan with a transfer capacity of 2,000 megawatts (MW), only a quarter of the full 8,000-MW capacity of Lines 1 and 2.

With the lifting of the TRO, NGCP said it restarted stringing activities for the affected section of the HSJ development and completed Line 1 last May 19, enabling an in-line capacity of 4,000 MW.

HSJ's Line 2 is expected to be finished by mid-July this year.

In 2023, the Supreme Court issued a TRO against NGCP over the expropriation of and construction in a portion of the HSJ owned by Phirst Park Homes Inc.

Upon receiving the order on July 6, 2023, NGCP immediately stopped project-related activities along Towers 170-178 of the said line, which in turn stalled the stringing of the line's remaining circuit. This halted construction works from July 2023 to April 2024.

The HSJ has a project cost of P17.3 billion and is certified as an Energy Project of National Significance. Its full completion and energization at full capacity are critical in accommodating additional power generation to the grid to prevent Luzon-wide power interruptions.