By Dexter A. See | Posted on August 08, 2012 | 12:02am
Bokod — The 545-megawatt combined output of Ambuklao, Binga and Magat dams have helped to stabilize the supply of the Luzon grid which enabled the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to call off its yellow alert, said an official of SN Aboitiz Power Benguet.
Emmanuel Rubio, SNAP B president and chief executive officer, said the refurbished Ambuklao power plant is rated for 105 megawatts, or 30 MW more than its previous production while Binga has only contributed 80 MW while undergoing rehabilitation to produce 125 MW.
While the yield of the two hydroelectric facilities less than the 185 MW produced by other big power plants, any addition to the supply would help stem an outage.
“Binga’s rehabilitation is right on track and we hope we could maximize its power production potentials by late next year in order to help further stabilize the grid considering that the demand grows higher every day,” Rubio told Manila Standard, adding that SNAP’s Magat plant at the border of Ifugao and Isabela dispatches around 360 MW to the grid during the rainy season.
According to him, while the production of plants fueled by non-renewable sources is bigger, surges in demand during peak hours can cause a shortfall.
“When one of our diesel or coal-fired power plants suddenly bogs down, the hydro plants are the ones that fill the deficiency,” Rubio said.
When Malampaya plant shut down last July, consumers immediately found a higher rate in their Meralco bills.
SNAP B won the bid in 2007 to purchase the Ambuclao and Binga power plants from the National Power Corp. for $325 million. source
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