Angat hydro power plant to undergo major rehab

GE Renewable Energy has won a contract to rehabilitate and extend the operating life of the 53-year-old Angat hydro electric power plant by another 50 years.

The France-based company said in a statement its technology would also increase the total capacity of the generator complex by 8.4 megawatts.

Operated by Angat Hydropower Corp., a consortium of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) subsidiary SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. and Korea Water Resources Corp., the power plant began operations in 1967 and generates about 246 MW of electricity.

The contract with GE Renewable Energy represents the first major rehabilitation program since the power complex went online.

GE Renewable Energy said in a statement that it would deploy to Angat teams from Europe and the Americas and install two new 50-MW turbines, four new 50-MW generators and three new upgraded auxiliary turbines and generators.

These teams will be in charge of the assessment of the penstock, the powerhouse and a new control system will also be provided.

“I am delighted to start this collaboration with Angat Hydropower Corp. and support the country in upgrading its hydropower assets,” said Pascal Radue, president and chief executive of GE’s Hydro Solutions.

“This new project confirms the presence of GE Renewable Energy in the Philippines, where the energy demand increases by about 7 percent annually and relies on hydropower to meet the demand,” Radue added.

He said GE Renewable Energy would work closely with a local partner, Desco, that would install and commission the Angat generators.

Rehabilitation works are expected to be completed by 2023. INQ