Aboitiz Power to invest in 7MW hydro plant in Philippines

Aboitiz Power will invest PHP1bn ($23.8m) to build a 7MW Tudaya hydropower plant in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur in the Philippines.

The company began construction at the facility through its wholly owned subsidiary Hedcor.

Aboitiz Power president Erramon I. Aboitiz said, "The Tudaya project will provide Davao and Mindanao, as a whole, with reliable, dependable and competitively priced power, thereby strengthening the region’s position as a destination for business, investment and tourism."

The project which will harness the Sibulan River is expected to be an extension of the company’s 42.5MW Sibulan hydropower plant in Davao.

Hedcor president Rene Ronquillo said, "As an APC company and as one of the largest producers of renewable energy in the country, the Tudaya Hydro 2 is our contribution to the worldwide effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

The new hydropower plant will be constructed within Barangays (villages) Astorga and Rizal will rise downstream of the Sibulan Hydro B plant.

On completion, the hydro facility will deliver 40.5gWh on an annual basis to Davao del Sur Cooperative, enough to meet the power needs of 7,000 homes in the region.

The project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2014.

The facility will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, reports business.inquirer.net.