Magat plant secures ERC clearance

MANILA, Philippines - The joint venture of Aboitiz Power Corp. and SN Power of Norway has received clearance for its 360-megawatt (MW) hydroelectric power plant (HEPP) at the border of Isabela and Ifugao.

AboitizPower disclosed Monday it was advised by SN Aboitiz Power-Magat Inc. that the Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a certificate of compliance (COC) for all four 90-MW units of the Magat Hydroelectric Power Plant (Magat HEPP).

The firm said the COC, which would be valid for five years, signifies Magat HEPP’s compliance with the requirements under the 2014 Revised Rules for the Issuance of Certificate of Compliance for Generation Companies, Qualified End Users and Entities with Self-Generation Facilitates, the Philippine Grid Code, Philippine Distribution Code, Wholesale Electricity Spot Market Rules and related laws and regulations.

SN Aboitiz Power-Magat is the owner and operator of the 360-MW Magat HEPP after winning the auction for the plant in December 2006.

In 2014, the firm refurbished the power plant to preserve its remaining life and continuance of its availability.

SN Aboitiz president Emmanuel Rubio earlier said the rehabilitation will make it a “completely new Magat.”

Its sister firm SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet Inc. completed the rehabilitation of the 105-MW Ambuklao HEPP in 2011 and of the 125-MW Binga hydropower plant in Itogon, Benguet in 2013.

The company took over the Binga and Ambuklao plants in 2008 after winning the 2007 auction with a $325-million offer.

SN Aboitiz has a total capacity of 617 MW, which is expected to grow in the coming years with some expansion plans in the pipeline.