Ambuklao
SN Aboitiz Power took over Ambuklao in July 2008. The plant had not been operational since 1999 due to damages suffered from a major earthquake in 1990. The company has rehabilitated Ambuklao and is now fully-operational.
The plant
Ambuklao was commissioned by the National Power Corporation in 1956 and is one of the oldest hydropower plants in the Philippines. It has a capacity of 75 MW. The usable storage of the Ambuklao reservoir is 50 MCM, (about 45 operating days at 5 peak hours).
Operation
After going through a 3-year rehabilitation period, Ambuklao is now fully operational and has a new installed capacity of 105 MW.
Development
A new intake has been built and all major power components, such as turbines and generators, have been replaced. The rehabilitation was completed in the 3rd quarter of 2011. The fully rehabilitated plant has 3 turbines of 35 MW each with a combined average annual production of about 332 GWh.
Sustainable development
The rehabilitation of both Ambuklao and Binga, their dam/spillway and other facilities already resulted in a significant number of employment opportunities to local inhabitants. Water quality will be improved by environmental programs to reduce contamination from waste water and solid waste disposal.
SN Aboitiz Power has established a Corporate Social Responsibility fund to enable strategic development projects in all Binga’s host communities. The Fund focuses on supporting self-sustainable and long term projects within Environmental Management, Eco-tourism, Healthcare, Education and Social Infrastructure. Watershed management programs are currently being implemented to help protect the forests and other areas within the impact area of the plant.
The Ambuklao rehabilitation project has been approved and registered to generate carbon credits under the UN`s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Through generation of renewable energy, Ambuklao will replace some of the Philippines`s thermal power production and the UN confirms the project will reduce global CO2 emissions by an estimated 160 000 tonnes annually. The CDM approval and registration was a decisive factor for the realisation of the project.