SN Aboitiz continues rehab of power plants

MANILA, Philippines - SN Aboitiz Power Inc. (SNAP), a unit of the Aboitiz group, is continuing its $280-million rehabilitation program for the175-megawatt (MW) Ambuklao-Binga hydroelectric power plants.

SNAP is a joint venture between Aboitiz Power Corp. and SN Power Invest and Aboitiz Power Corp.

“Total rehab cost and capital expenditure (for Ambuklao-Binga) is estimated at $280 million,” SN Aboitiz external relations manager Michael Hosillos said.

According to Hosillos, the project will allow the recommissing of the Ambuklao plant and upgrade the Binga plant in Benguet.

After the program is completed, he said they hope to jack up the capacity of the two hydro power plants.

Hosillos said combined capacity of the Ambuklao and Binga plants will increase to 225 megawatts with combined annual generation of approximately 760 gigawatthours.

SNAP started the rehab program of the Ambuklao plant in December 2008. The hydro plant was shut down in 1999 after it sustained some damage following a major earthquake.

SNAP plans to increase the capacity of Ambuklao to 105 MW, from 75 MW, while the Binga hydro plant’s capacity will be raised from 100 MW to 120 MW.

Hosillos said the rehabilitation of Ambuklao began in December 2008 and target completion of first unit (25 MW) is in July 2010. He said all three units (25 MW x 3) are expected to be running by December 2010.

Earlier, SNAP said the Ambuklao plant rehabilitation project is being implemented by a team of leading foreign and local experts in hydropower cons-truction headed by its Norwegian project director Rolf Baaserud.