Napocor to fully restore Agus-Pulangi hydropower plants by August
To address the growing power demand in Mindanao, state-run National Power Corp. (Napocor) is set to gradually switch on multiple power units of the Agus-Pulangi hydroelectric plants through the end of this month until August.
In a statement on Wednesday, June 24, Napocor said its power assets are set to return to service starting June 26 after undergoing planned, extended, and emergency shutdowns due to technical concerns.
By June 26, units 1 and 2 of Agus 1 power plant, as well as unit 2 of Pulangi 4 plant, will go back online.
Pulangi 4’s unit 1 will return to normal operations by June 30, while Agus 6’s unit 4 will resume operations by July 17.
The power complex’s final facility, Agus 5 unit 1, will be reenergized by Aug. 20.
“By Aug. 20, full operation na po ‘yung ating Agus and Pulangi plants, which will address all the necessary power needs and committed power needs,” said Napocor President Jericho Nograles.
National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has sought Napocor’s assistance in helping address rising energy demand in the southern island.
“We sought assistance with the Agus and Pulangi hydroelectric power plants [and] through your efforts, we successfully managed the 450-megawatt (MW) maximum export from Mindanao to the Visayas grid. We know this was no small feat,” NGCP told the hydropower operator.
Currently, Napocor is making preparations as the country is expected to experience a prolonged dry spell due to El Niño until early 2027.
“Napocor has started preparations for its massive watershed rehabilitation in aid of improving hydrology for hydroelectric power plants it manages in Luzon and Mindanao,” it said.
To recall, the government has said it expects to award by December this year the contract to a private consortium that will help rehabilitate the Agus-Pulangi hydropower complex.
The facilities were initially designed to have a combined capacity of 1,000 MW. However, their aging condition has reduced generation to about 300 MW to 400 MW, prompting the need to retrofit the power projects. - Gabriell Christel Galang