SN Aboitiz set to complete rehab work on Ambuklao

BOKOD, Benguet, Philippines — SN Aboitiz Corp. (SNAP) is expected to complete the rehabilitation of its Ambuklao hydropower facility before the end of this year, a ranking company official told reporters here.

SNAP Power Benguet Inc. site manager Emmanuel Lopez said they expect to finish the rehab of Unit 3 by Sept. 20, 2010; Unit 2 by Oct. 26, 2010 and Unit 1 by Nov. 27, 2010. The project started in September 2008.

“We are hoping that the turnkey project will be turnover to us before the year ends,” Lopez said.

Of the $280.4 million budget for the project, about $140.4 million has already been spent.

Lopez said after the rehab, the capacity of the plant will be upgraded to 105 MW from 75 MW.

In 1999, the Ambuklao power plant was shutdown due to a massive earthquake and was never been operational since then, 

According to Lopez, the rehab program that they are using for Ambuklao is unique.

“This is the first time that a hydro power plant project is using a tehcnology similar to that being used for oil drilling.  This is a very complicated technology and has not been done in hydro project,” he said.

He said at present, there was no recorded untoward incident in the project site.

“We are glad that we have been able to implement the program without any incidents of accidents,” he said.

He said so far, total man hours without lost time injuries at the project is 1,654,651.

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

The rehabilitation and the eventual operation of the Ambuklao plant will allow the host communities to again collect National Wealth Tax (and enjoy Benefits to Host Community (ER 1-94) which have ceased due to the non-operation of the plant.

On the other hand, SNAP earlier said they also expect to complete the refurbishment plan for the Binga hydro plant in the first half of 2013.

In July 2008, the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) turned over the ownership of the Ambuklao-Binga hydro plants to SNAP after offering the highest bid of $325 million.

At present, SNAP also operates the 360 MW Magat hydroelectric plant in Isabela after offering government the highest bid of $530 million.