Hedcor starts Bukidnon hydropower plant in Q4

MANILA, Philippines -  Hedcor Inc., the hydropower subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corp., will start commissioning the 69-megawatt (MW) Manolo Fortich hydropower plant in Bukidnon in the fourth quarter of the year.

Hedcor vice president for operations Rolando Pacquiao said the plant’s commissioning is expected within the fourth quarter of this year as it currently undergoes installation of turbines.

The company has tapped Andritz Hydro—a global supplier of plants, equipment, and services for hydropower station based in Graz, Austria—to provide and install turbines for the project.

Andritz was awarded a 15-million euro contract to complete the electromechanical works of Hedcor’s newest two power plants. 

So far, the Austrian firm is half way in the installation of four units Francis-type turbines for the 25.4-MW Manolo Fortich Hydropower Plant 2.

Meanwhile, the Manolo Fortich Hydropower Plant 1 will have a combination of Francis-type and Pelton-type turbines with two units each type, generating 43.4 MW renewable energy.

“Aside from installing the electromechanical equipment, Andritz ensures quality control of the entire hydro system such as analysis, target points, alignment, and ensures the hydro plant will soon generate power, efficiently,” said Pacquiao said.

Hedcor’s hydro project is enough to provide clean energy to approximately 70,000 households in the island of Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Hedcor Bukidnon has so far recorded 2.9 million man-hours with no lost-time incidents within the workplace.

Andritz has been Hedcor’s supplier for other plants such as the 3.8-MW Irisan 1 hydropower project (HPP) in Tuba, Benguet; the 6.6-MW Tudaya HPP in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur; and the 14-MW Sabangan HPP in Barangay Namatec Sabangan, Mountain Province.

Hedcor specializes in generating renewable energy from run-of-river hydropower system. To-date, it manages and operates 22 hydropower plants and supplies the country with 185 MW of clean and renewable energy.