Repower starts testing 18-MW Bukidnon hydro plant, first in Mindanao
Listed renewable energy firm Repower Energy Development Corp. (REDC) has begun testing and commissioning its first hydropower plant in Mindanao, marking a major milestone in its expansion.
REDC, through its subsidiary Cabanglasan Hydropower Corp., reached the testing and commissioning phase for the 18.2-megawatt (MW) run-of-river hydro plant located in Valencia and San Fernando, Bukidnon, the company said in a Philippine Stock Exchange disclosure Wednesday, Nov. 26. The development cost ₱4 billion.
The facility, situated along the Pulangi River, is projected to generate an average of 130 gigawatt-hours (GWh) annually, enough to power about 54,000 households with renewable energy. This is the company's ninth operating hydropower plant, adding to its existing portfolio in Luzon and Visayas.
REDC noted that the majority of the proceeds from its 2023 initial public offering (IPO) were allocated to finance this asset. The company also secured a ₱2.6-billion loan from state-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) in 2022, with construction commencing in 2023.
Beyond the ongoing testing in Mindanao, Repower is also developing the 4.5-MW Piapi hydro project in Quezon Province, which is slated for completion by the end of 2027.
“REDC will commence construction on four more hydropower projects in the coming months, with a total capital expenditure (CAPEX) of ₱10.3 billion,” the firm stated.
REDC's current operating assets, including its mini-hydro plant projects, total about 36.85 MW of installed capacity.
The company reported a 110 percent surge in net income during the first nine months of the year, growing to ₱226.1 million from ₱107.7 million in the previous year. This growth was attributed to the impact of recent weather conditions, which boosted operational efficiency across its assets.
REDC, a subsidiary of Pure Energy Holdings Corp., specializes in run-of-river hydropower development with projects located in Quezon, Laguna, Bukidnon, and Bicol.