Published
February 26, 2017, 10:01 PM By Myrna M. Velasco
The Philippine
government, with the endorsement of the National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA), is eyeing official development assistance (ODA) and other
forms of funding from the Chinese government to bankroll the proposed
rehabilitation as well as the expansion projects for the Agus-Pulangui
hydropower complex in Mindanao.
The Agus-Pulangui
retrofit and upgrade plan is among the projects lined up by the NEDA’s Investment
Coordination Committee-Cabinet Level for the Philippines and Chinese
government’s cooperation agreement.
Energy Secretary
Alfonso G. Cusi told reporters that he concurs with the recommendation to
pursue rehabilitation of the 727-megawatt Agus and 225MW Pulangui hydropower
facilities prior to any moves of privatizing their operations or divesting
them.
“Having more than
enough power in Mindanao is an opportune time that we have, to do the
rehabilitation, and then after that, we can pursue privatization,” he said.
Cusi noted that the
timeline of privatization as well as rehabilitation shall be done based on a
study that both the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation
(PSALM) and National Power Corporation (NPC) will present. NPC, according to
the energy chief, will continue to operate the Mindanao hydropower assets that
may then act as “stabilizer” when there are technical upsets in the power
system.
The rehabilitation of
the Agus-Pulangui complex will have various components, including that of Agus
6 Unit 4; Pulangui 4 selective dredging phase 3; and Balo-i Plains Flood
Control Project.
Proposed expansion
projects shall cover construction of the targeted Agus 3 hydroelectric power
development as well as the Pulangui 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 ventures.
For the Pulangui 1, 2,
3, and 6 expansion projects, pre-feasibility studies were already completed by
Germany’s Lahmeyer Group; while Pulangui 3 was initially met with resistance
from residents as it was noted to involve “inundation or submergence of the
whole municipality of San Fernando, Bukidnon” – with estimated 18 barangays
getting affected.
Expansion undertaking
on the proposed Agus 3 plant will set greenfield capacity addition of 224MW to
the hydropower complex. Estimated investment for this was placed at $1.0
billion.
On the Agus 6 plant
sited in Maria Cristina, Iligan City, the rehabilitation project involves the
restoration of its capacity from 25MW deration to 50MW rated capacity. Funding
for such scope of work had been pegged at R504 million.
The proposed dredging
at the Pulangui 4 facility, according to studies, intends to “mitigate
siltation problem of reservoir and to increase energy output.” Cost of this
venture had been calculated at R500 million.
For the Balo-i flood
control project, the goal is to increase output of the Agus 1 and 2 hydropower
plants to a maximum of 60MW, as well as address perennial flooding along the
area’s plains especially during rainy days.
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