NIA, SNAP sign MOU for Alimit multipurpose project

Posted on September 19, 2023
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SN Aboitiz Power Group (SNAP) signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to conduct a feasibility study for the Alimit multipurpose project in Ifugao province. The signing took place on September 14, 2023 at the NIA Central Office in Quezon City with NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie Guillen and SNAP President and CEO Joseph Yu. This continues SNAP’s initial feasibility study for Alimit and aims to look at the water management potential of the project such as for irrigation. The potential addition of an irrigation component would address both food and energy security for the country. The Alimit project is proposed to be located along the Alimit river in Ifugao province, a major tributary of the Magat dam. The multipurpose Magat dam, owned and operated by NIA, is a major source of irrigation and power in Luzon. “NIA and SNAP have long been partners in the operation of the largest multipurpose dam in the country, the Magat dam. Through this MOU, NIA and SNAP will be able to jointly cooperate in studying the feasibility of the Alimit multipurpose dam for irrigation, flood reduction in the province of Cagayan, generation of additional power for the Luzon grid, and additional benefits for agriculture, aquaculture, and general industry development,” Engr. Guillen said in his speech. “We are pleased to have NIA as our partner as we explore the possibility of moving forward with Alimit as a multipurpose facility. Our partnership brings together knowledge, expertise, resources, and innovation from our respective sectors, and we look forward to studying and designing a project that addresses multiple challenges and has the potential to benefit not only the provinces of Ifugao and Isabela, but the region as well,” Yu said. The renewable energy company, a joint venture between Scatec of Norway and AboitizPower, has been expanding its project pipeline to include complementary technologies such as battery energy storage (BESS). Last year, SNAP broke ground on the 24-MW Magat BESS project co-located in the Magat hydropower complex in Ramon, Isabela. Construction was completed in July and commercial operation is targeted to begin in the first half of 2024. #