SN Aboitiz Power-Magat (SNAP-Magat) is set to complete its first greenfield project, an 8.5-megawatt (MW) run-of-river hydro plant in Ramon, Isabela this year.
Speaking at the second Philippine Hydro Summit in Makati today, SNAP President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph S. Yu said that the plant is already 85% completed and will commence commercial operations in November.
With a project cost of USD 47.1 million, Maris hydro will generate renewable energy by utilizing the water flow from Maris Reservoir into Maris Main (South) Diversion Canal. Maris hydro is located in Barangay Ambatali, downstream of SNAP’s large hydro plant, Magat. The project broke ground in 2015.
“This is our first project to come through our greenfield pipeline so we are very excited. We have been working hard to ensure we finish on time and within budget, as well as within safety, social, and environmental standards. Barangay Ambatali is also now our host barangay, a welcome addition to what we hope would be a growing number of SNAP host communities,” Yu added.
SNAP is also the proponent of a bigger hydro project in Ifugao, the 390-MW Alimit Hydro. The project is a multi-facility complex comprised of the 20-MW Olilicon hydro, 120-MW Alimit hydro and the 250-MW Alimit Pumped Storage, and it requires a 42-km 230 KV transmission line to move power from the plant to the grid.
The project aims to combine the waters of the Alimit River and Ibulao River to generate electricity. The complex encompasses four ancestral domains in the municipalities of Aguinaldo, Lagawe, Lamut, and Mayoyao, with 81 host barangays under these domains.
“There are enormous challenges faced by large hydro proponents like SNAP — not least social acceptability, market viability, and complex processes. But we are gaining momentum in the permitting process so we hope to continue working with the government, indigenous peoples’ representatives, and industry partners. When managed responsibly, large hydro can power positive change for the country, industry, and communities,” Yu said.
SNAP Group is a joint venture between SN Power and AboitizPower. It owns and operates the Magat hydro that has a nameplate capacity of 360 MW with maximum output of 380 MW, and is located on the border of Isabela and Ifugao. SNAP also owns and operates the 105-MW Ambuklao hydro and the 140-MW Binga hydro in the province of Benguet.