Construction of La Union hydropower plant OK’d

TUBAO, La Union, Philippines – The municipal government is ready to start the construction of a P240-million hydropower plant in Barangay Halog East here after the Department of Energy recently approved the project, which can generate 1.5 megawatts of electricity.

Vicente Dulay Ching, consultant of the Tubao municipal government, said the approval came after more than five years of processing documents and requirements needed for the project.

Ching said the project, Tubao Hydro Electric Power Corp. (THEPC), would be built along the Aringay River. He said it underwent a study by his students at the University of the Cordilleras and experts from the Auburn Power Technologies Inc. (Auburn).

Alice Herrerra, an Auburn official who also serves as THEPC vice president, said construction would start in the first week of December.

Herrera said the plant is expected to start operating by early 2016.

“This is the first hydro project of Auburn in partnership with Tubao government. Although its capacity is only 1.5 megawatts, this will solve electricity shortage in the province,” Herrera said.

She said the P240 million needed for the project would be borrowed from the United Coconut Planters Bank.    

Mayor Dante Garcia said the La Union Electric Cooperative (Luelco) would purchase power from THEPC and sell it a peso cheaper than the prevailing electricity rates. 

“A power purchase agreement between Luelco and THEPC has been signed. Our constituents and neighboring towns will benefit from this project,” Garcia said.

He said the project would be implemented under a public-private partnership scheme and would have a second phase that would generate another 1.5 megawatts.