Magat Hydro Electric Power Plant
Magat Hydro Electric Power Plant was constructed by the National Power Corporation on Feb. 16, 1980 – Dec. 31, 1983 at a cost of US$83.7 Million (Power Plant component only). It is composed of 4 generating units with 90 MW rated capacity each (total of 360 MW).
Until today, it is capable of generating electricity at its rated capacity. The power plant building is located between the boundary of Ramon, Isabela and Ifugao, some 350 Km north of Metro Manila.
To fulfill the main purpose of the Philippine Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), which is the privatization of NPC’s major generating assets, Magat HydroElectric Plant was sold to SNAP, a 50:50 joint-venture between subsidiaries of Statkraft Norfund Power Invest AS (SN Power) of Norway and Aboitiz Equity Venture (AEV) of the Philippines, on Dec. 14, 2006 at a price of US$530 Million through a competitive bidding.
Each of the four Francis turbines of the plant is fed by its main fuel, water, from the dam type reservoir at a rate of 127.9 CMS at a rated gross head of 81 meters. The Magat dam has a “live” storage capacity of 963 MCM. Magat reservoir is the second largest reservoir in the Philippines, second only to Pantabangan reservoir (Pantabangan has a live storage of 1,753 MCM); however, in terms of watershed area, it is the largest (4,143 square Km.). Though used for power generation and flood control, the reservoir’s primary purpose is for irrigating 106,000 ha. of farm lands in the Cagayan Valley, mostly in Isabela Province. Magat dam is owed and maintained by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
The reservoir is experiencing sedimentation problem that, based on studies, is faster than its designed rate; threatening to reduce the power generation capacity starting on 2019.
Filed in: Hydro, Power Plants in the Philippines, Small and Large Hydro
Local date: March, 2010