Ambuclao power plant to operate by September

BOKOD, Benguet -- The management of the SN Aboitiz Power Benguet here said the 60-year-old Ambuclao dam will be operational by September to augment the rapidly growing power requirement of the Luzon grid and reduce power outages during the dry season.

Lawyer Miko Hosillos, SNAPB vice-president for external affairs, said one unit of the power plant will be operational by May this year while two remaining generation facilities will be running by September to produce sufficient power for the Luzon grid.

The Ambuclao dam should have been operational last year but rehabilitation of the 75-megawatt power plant was delayed due to typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” over a year ago aggravated by super typhoon “Juan” that affected upgrading of the power plant.

Once the power plant is operational, SNAPB predicts that it could generate a maximum of 105 megawatts of power which is 30 megawatts higher than its original power output prior to its rehabilitation.

The Aboitiz-owned power firm won the bid for the operation of the Ambuclao and Binga dam complex and it paid the Private Sector Assets Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) the amount of $325 million in order to operate the same for a 25-year lease period.