₱26.3 Billion Hydropower Facility in the Works for SMC

San Miguel Corp. is getting ready to build a ₱26.3 billion hydropower plant in Malay, Aklan as part of its continued effort to shift to sustainability. The project is under Strategic Power Development Corp. (SPDC), a subsidiary of SMC Global Power Holdings Corp.

It’s expected to be a 300-megawatt (MW) facility that is aimed at covering a portion of the Visayas grid’s renewable energy requirement. The hydropower plant will also aid in the stabilization of the grid during peak hours by providing supplementary services.

“Currently, hydroelectric power facilities account for the largest portion of renewable power source in the country. In this juncture, the development of this project will provide Renewable Energy to the Visayas grid, particularly the Province of Aklan in Panay Island, during peak hours for the current and future peak load demand,” explained SPDC.

Construction of the facility is projected to take four years and five months, which will begin with site installation during the first quarter of 2022. Completion of the hydropower plant is set in the second half of 2025 while operations are expected to begin by 2026.

SPDC is also planning to establish solar plants along with battery storage facilities in 10 locations across the country, which it expects to be operational by 2023.

A 1,300-MW liquified natural gas (LNG) combine cycle plant is also in the works in Batangas, while small-scale LNG plants in 8 to 10 islands across Visayas and Mindanao are geared to bolster rural power supplies.

“We’re executing our plans to move away from building new coal facilities despite new technologies that make them cleaner. It’s a company direction that is in line with all the major sustainability initiatives we have undertaken these past couple of years,” affirmed SMC President Ramon Ang.

Source: BusinessMirror