RAMON, Isabela – The management of the SN Aboitiz Power Corporation (SNAP) here was forced to shut down operations of the 360-megawatt (mW) Magat Dam after it could no longer generate power and provide irrigation due to extremely low water level triggered by the the El Niño phenomenon.

As this developed, the 100-megawatt Binga Dam in Itogon, Benguet is now operating on limited capacity due to its critical water level.

While SNAP sympathizes with the needs of the farmers for irrigation water to save their agricultural crops ravaged by the drought, Magat Dam management cited the continuous drop in the dam’s water level due to no water in-flow.

At present, the water level of the dam has dropped to 150 meters above sea level, which is below its critical level of 160 meters, thus, it could no longer generate power and provide irrigation to the vast tracks of agricultural lands in Isabela and Qurino provinces.

Lawyer Mike Hosillos, SNAP external affairs manager, said the temporary stoppage of the dam’s power operation will allow the company to conduct the required preventive maintenance of its power generation equipment in preparation for the expected resumption of the dam’s operation during the rainy season.

Magat dam is located in the boundary of Ifugao and Isabela and gets its water requirement from the upstream Cordillera watersheds and forests.

Hosillos said it is still uncertain yet when the power plant’s operation will resume, saying it depends on the reservoir’s water level when rains start to pour.

Hosillos said Binga Dam produces 25 to 50 mW of power during peak hours when the water level reaches 560 meters above sea level, which is the water level that allows the plant to generate power.

Once the water goes below the critical level, the hydro power dam can no longer generate power, thus, contributing to the occurrence of rotating blackouts in most parts of Northern Luzon due to limited supply.

The El Niño phenomenon which started to prevail in the country last year is now greatly affecting the power generation capabilities of hydroelectric dams in the different parts of Luzon, contributing to the dwindling power supply being infused to the Luzon grid