Jordeene B. Lagare March 31, 2021
CERTAIN obstacles have prompted SN Aboitiz Power Group (SNAP) to take a step back and recalibrate its plans on developing the Alimit hydropower complex in Ifugao, a company official said.
Still, SNAP — the joint venture of Norway-based Scatec Solar and Aboitiz Power Corp. — is keen on pursuing the hydropower facility with a potential capacity of 390 megawatts (MW).
“Actually, we’ve held back on [the] Alimit [hydro facility] given we have issues with the permitting,” said Emmanuel Rubio, AboitizPower president and chief executive officer, adding, “Maybe it’s time to reevaluate our position with Alimit.”
Rubio told reporters the company is also reevaluating the route for the transmission line to the grid.
“We have an SIS (system impact study), there were suggestions by [the] NGCP (National Grid Corp. of the Philippines) on where to connect and it requires certain reconductory of Magat-Santiago line,” he said.
SIS is one of the requirements a project proponent needs to secure before commencing the construction of a power plant.
“That’s where it is. We have not stopped. That’s the official word, that we are actually reevaluating given the situation that we have some permitting issues with the IPs (Indigenous Peoples) and the connection point that we have to finalize with the NGCP,” he added.
Rubio hinted at talks with concerned government agencies, including the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), noting the Alimit hydropower complex could help alleviate flooding in Northern Luzon.
“Remember the issue on Cagayan flooding? I think there has been discussion already with [the] NIA and certain government agencies,” he said.
“Alimit would probably be able to at least alleviate to a certain level flooding in Northern Luzon because it can trap certain amounts of water, not totally. It will not prevent flooding, but at least it would help alleviate flooding and that’s the new track we’re evaluating with the government,” Rubio explained.
The planned hydropower complex project consists of the 120-MW Alimit hydropower plant, the 250-MW Alimit pumped storage facility (which is currently on hold due to market constraints) and the 20-MW Olilicon hydropower plant.
The Energy Investment Coordinating Council, headed by the Department of Energy, declared the Alimit hydro complex as an energy of national significance.
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