More Mindanao towns to get renewable power from Aboitiz

By Manuel Cayon - January 17, 2018

https://businessmirror.com.ph/more-mindanao-towns-to-get-renewable-power-from-aboitiz/

DAVAO CITY—Eight electric cooperatives in Mindanao are expected to boost their reserve electric supply as a power subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corp. began commissioning its hydroelectric plant in Bukidnon.

Hedcor Bukidnon Inc. said it was on the final phase of commissioning its 69-megawatt (MW) hydropower facilities in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

Rolando Pacquiao, Hedcor vice president for operations and maintenance, said commercial operation is expected to start this year immediately after commissioning.

Eight electric cooperatives have already signed up for the Manolo Fortich hydroelectric renewable- energy generation beginning this year.

Their contracted power total 45 megawatts of the hydropower plant’s total rated capacity of 69 MW.

The cooperatives were the South Cotabato 2 Electric Cooperative (Socoteco 2),  Zamboanga del Sur Electric Cooperatives 1 and 2 (Zamsureco 1 and 2) , Zamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative (Zaneco), Misamis Occidental 1 Electric Cooperative (Moelci 1), Siargao Electric Cooperative (Siarelco), Bukidnon Second Electric Cooperative (Buseco) and  Surigao del Sur 1 Electric Cooperative Inc. (Surseco 1).

Socotwco 2 contracted 20 MW to serve the municipalities of Sarangani, Tupi and Polomolok in South Cotabato and General Santos City.

The municipalities of Lingig, Bislig, Tagbina, Barobo, Hinatuan, Lianga and San Agustin in the province of Surigao del Sur would get an additional of 2-MW reserve. These are under the franchise of Surseco 1.

Zaneco signed for 10 MW. It serves the area in and around Zamboanga del Norte and the cities of Dipolog and Dapitan.

Zamsureco 1 and Zamsureco 2 contracted 3 MW each to serve the rest of Zamboanga Peninsula.

Bukidnon’s own Buseco with franchise locations all over Bukidnon signed for 5 MW.

Moelci, currently servicing some municipalities in Misamis Occidental, and Siarelco, covering at least nine towns in Siargao island, each signed for 1 MW of power supply.

“We look forward to partnering with more electric cooperatives in Mindanao who wish to start their shift to a more balanced mixed of energy supply,” Pacquiao said.

Hedcor currently operates 22 hydroelectric-power plants in the country. Five are located in Davao City, four in Davao del Sur and 13 in Luzon.  These power plants produce a combined 185 MW of renewable hydropower energy.