CAUAYAN, Isabela – SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc. (SNAP-Magat) said on Saturday that its hydroelectric power plant is now available for power generation as the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) starts releasing water for irrigation.

The power plant at Ramon, Isabela and Alfonso Lista, Ifugao has a rated capacity of 360 mW and draws water from the multi-purpose Magat Dam which is prioritized for irrigation of agricultural lands in Cagayan Valley. The water used for irrigation is the same water used by the hydropower plant for generation.

Magat plant has operated at reduced capacity since January and temporarily shut down in the middle of March when water elevation was no longer sufficient for the plant to generate power due to the dry spell caused by El Niño.

Meanwhile, SNAP hopes that the onset of the rainy season will allow steady increase of the water elevation at the Binga Dam in Itogon, Benguet. The Binga hydro power plant, owned and operated by SNAP-Benguet, has been available for power generation despite the dry spell but it has been constrained as well due to low water levels over the past months.

“When the water elevation is steady and sufficient for power generation, both Magat and Binga power plants can be expected to contribute substantial capacities for power supply in the Luzon grid,” Mike Hosillos, spokesperson of SNAP said.

SNAP is a joint venture between SN Power of Norway and Aboitiz Power.

At present, the water elevation at the Magat Dam is approximately over 165 meters above sea level, much lower than its normal high water level of 185 meters above sea level while the water level at the Binga Dam is a little over above 565 meters above sea level which is still below its normal high water level of 575 meters above sea level.

While Magat Dam temporarily suspended its operations during the onslaught of the El Niño phenomenon, the Binga Dam continued to generate power by about 25 to 50 percent of its normal capacity of 75 megawatts during peak hours in order to substantiate the power requirement of the Luzon grid.

Once the two dams will be in full operation when their respective water levels reach their normal levels, the Luzon grid will be receiving a steady supply of clean energy when the rainy days will come.

Because of the continuous rains in Northern Luzon over the past two weeks, the water level in the two power plants started to significantly improve for the benefit of a sustained power supply that will address the increasing demand for power in the various parts of Luzon.

The Aboitiz-owned power company is on the process of rehabilitating the Ambuclao hydroelectric plant located in Bokod, Benguet in order to increase its power generation capacity while Binga Dam will also be rehabilitated once the former will be commissioned for operation in the coming months.