LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Aboitiz-owned Hydro-electric Development corporation (HEDCOR) will be breaking ground for the construction of its 19-megawatt combined Bineng hydropower plants to boost the company’s capacity for renewable energy that will be infused to the grid.
HEDCOR Senior Vice President Cris Fernando Faelnar said that from the 5.8-megawatt total power output of the three Bineng hydropower plants upon the expiration of its 25-year initial agreement, the company plans to increase the combined power put of the three plants to 19 megawatts through the use of the latest renewable energy technology suitable in the area.
Aside from the groundbreaking ceremonies for its Bineng hydropower plants, HEDCOR also plans to inaugurate its 68-megawatt Manolo Fortich plants in Bukidnon that will boost its presence in the Mindanao area providing quality renewable energy for the Mindanao grid.
HEDCOR currently operates 22 hydropower plants in different parts of the country over the past four decades. Of the 22 power plants, 13 renewable energy plants are located in Benguet, Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur, whose combined total power output of all the plants is 185 megawatts.
Faelnar revealed that another milestone that HEDCOR was able to achieve was the grant of the International Standards Organization (ISO) of the certification of integrated effective management systems for its Sibulan hydropower plants in Davao.
To contribute in efforts to sustain the watershed of the environs of its power plants, HEDCOR was able to plant over 254,000 assorted tree seedlings and saplings through the years wherein 154,000 is located within the vicinity of its power plants in Benguet, Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur.
Faelnar disclosed that part of their proposed expansion in Benguet is for the development of potential hydropower plants in Kabayan, Buguias, Bokod, Kibungan and Kapangan considering that all the said projects are in the works for the preparatory activities.
He claimed that the company will remain to be closely working with the indigenous peoples and the indigenous cultural communities in their areas of operation to guarantee the co-existence of their power plants with the host communities to ensure the sustained production of quality renewable energy that will be infused to the grid.
For its proposed expansion projects in the identified municipalities, HEDCOR is one the process of presenting to the concerned local governments and the concerned stakeholders their plans for the future operation of the renewable energy plants geared towards maximizing the utilization of the rich water resources for the production of quality power to the grid.
HEDCOR is one of the subsidiaries of the Aboitiz Power Company, which is in charge of the development, operation and maintenance of mini hydropower plants in the different parts of the country in partnership with host and neighboring communities.
By HENT
