Rehabilitated Ambuklao plant powers up Luzon grid

Manila Times.net
Published : Friday, November 04, 2011 00:00 Written by : THOM F. PICAÑA


BOKOD, Benguet: After more than four years of rehabilitation, the SN Aboitiz Power- commissioned Ambuklao hydroelectric power plant goes into operation to supply power consumers in the Luzon grid.


President and chief executive officer Emmanuel Rubio and other Benguet officials led by Benguet Rep. Ronald Cosalan inaugurated the new Ambuklao plant of 105 megawatts (MW) capacity that will produce clean and renewable energy to millions of Filipinos in Luzon.


Rehabilitation of Ambuklao started in 2008 and was completed last October 27, 2011.


The powerhouse tunnel portal, which leads to the new Ambuklao powerhouse, was presented during the inauguration.


The Snap-Benguet acquired the 75-MW Ambuklao and 100-MW Binga hydroelectric power plants in 2008 in a bid to improve the supply of the electricity in Benguet and the Luzon grid. Ambuklao plant is in the municipalities of Bokod and Itogon.


These power facilities were considered among the first large hydroelectric power plants of the National Power Corp. (Napocor) when they were constructed in the 1950s.


Considered one of the first and largest hydroelectric power plants of its time, Ambuklao underwent three years of extensive rehabilitation and upgrades through the expert guidance of Snap-Benguet, which won the bid to own and operate the plant and the adjacent Binga power plant in 2007.


On June 1, Ambuklao’s 35-MW Unit 3 turbine commenced commercial operations to the Luzon grid, followed by Units 1 and 2.


The Aboitiz Group said the rehabilitation of Ambuklao plant alone sets another milestone in the Philippine hydropower industry as the first of its kind in terms of scope and magnitude.


The Ambuklao plant is now also registered under the Clean Development Mechanism and is expected to generate 180,000 carbon credits.