SMC unit eyes 1,000-MW pumped hydro in Benguet

MANILA, Philippines - A unit of SMC Global Power Corp. is eyeing to build two pumped-storage hydropower projects with a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts (MW) in Benguet.

Strategic Power Development Corp. of the San Miguel Group is looking to build the 600-MW San Roque Upper East and 400-MW San Roque Upper West pumped-storage hydropower plants in Itogon, Benguet, data from the Department of Energy (DOE) showed.

The DOE has issued on July 7 a clearance for grid impact studies for both projects.

In its latest data, the DOE noted Strategic Power has ongoing studies and permitting for its hydropower facilities.

Apart from the Benguet project, Strategic Power is working on a 200-MW pumped-storage hydropower plant in Aklan.

The San Miguel subsidiary is also modernizing the capacity of the 345-MW San Roque multipurpose hydroelectric power plant in San Manuel, Pangasinan.

It currently trades the capacity of the San Roque plant after San Miguel Corp. won the right to manage the supply contract in 2009 with a $450 million bid.

In 2013, San Miguel partnered with Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-Water) for the operation of the 218-MW Angat hydropower plant in Bulacan.These projects form part of the San Miguel Group’s goal to build a portfolio of 3,000 MW of hydropower projects.