Aboitiz Power subsidiary, Hedcor Bukidnon, is now on its commissioning phase to check the alignment of the entire system for the 69-MW Manolo Fortich hydropower cascade in Bukidnon province on Midanao Island, Philippines.
Hedcor made the announcement Jan. 1 for the US$280 million complex that includes two run-of-river plants: the 43.4-MW Manolo Fortich 1 and 25.4-MW Manolo Fortich 2.
On Dec. 9, according to an Aboitiz press release, South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative Inc., which serves General Santos City and surrounding areas, signed an agreement with Hedcor for 20 MW of energy from the Manolo Fortich cascade.
Hedcor Bukidnon has also signed renewable energy supply agreements with several electric cooperatives that include: Zamboanga del Sur 1 and 2 , Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental I, Siargao, Bukidnon Second and Surigao del Sur 1.
In 2015, HydroWorld.com reported the subsidiary secured a loan worth about US$213.2 million to develop the cascade.
Major work in the hydropower sector of the country’s energy mix also took place earlier in December. Philippines Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III announced the government is seeking Official Development Assistance financing from China to help fund the $1.07 billion rehabilitation project for the Agus-Pulangi hydroelectric complex in Mindanao.
The work is expected to begin within the next three years.
The Agus complex includes six powerhouses along the Agus River: 80-MW Agus I, 180-MW Agus II, 158-MW Agus IV, 55-MW Agus V, 200-MW Agus VI and 55-MW Agus VII. The 255-MW Pulangi IV project is on Pulangi River near Maramag in Bukidnon province.
