MinDA assures rehab of Agus-pulangi hydropower plant will be done this year

By Lenie Lectura - February 9, 2016

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/minda-assures-rehab-of-agus-pulangi-hydropower-plant-will-be-done-this-year/

THE Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said on Tuesday that the rehabilitation of the Agus-Pulangi hydropower complex would be finished this year.

Romeo Montenegro, director IV of the MinDa Investments Promotion, International Relations and Public Affairs Office, said the rehab project, which is estimated to cost about P5 billion, is on track. The rehab is meant to ensure the hydro facility’s long-term reliability and increase its capacity.“Yes, [it’s on track] that’s why a number of Agus units have been de-rated due to ongoing rehab, except, however, for Baloi flood control, which will increase Agus I and II output. It has not been started and is now being reckoned with the eventual construction of Agus III. Meanwhile, Pulangi goes through just selective dredging,” Montenegro said.

MinDa is part of the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee, created to spearhead efforts to put forward immediate and long-term measures to address the worsening Mindanao power situation, including the immediate rehabilitation and updating of the Agus-Pulangi complex.

The Agus complex is composed of six hydro plants with a capacity of more than 700 megawatts (MW). Agus I is located in Marawi City (80 MW), Agus II in Lanao del Sur (180 MW), Agus IV in Lanao del Norte (158.1 MW) while Agus V (55 MW), Agus VI (200 MW) and Agus VII (54 MW) are in Iligan City.

The government has earmarked P1.72 billion for the Agus 1 and 2 uprating project aimed at increasing the hydro power plants’ combined generating capacity by 30 MW to 40 MW without flooding the communities in the Balo-i area.

The government also approved P2.6 billion for the Agus VI, Units 1 and 2 uprating which involves the rehabilitation and replacement of plant components in order to increase generation output by 19 MW and extend the plants’ economic life for another 30 years.

The committee also endorsed Napocor’s proposal to PSALM for allocation of P265 million for Pulangi 4 selective dredging in order to address siltation problem and increase generating output.