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AboitizPower hydro unit to expand Benguet facility

July 10, 2017

AboitizPower is set to triple the combined capacity of its Bineng hydro power plant facilities to up to 19 MW by 2019 after receiving the approval of the municipal council of La Trinidad, Benguet.

The Bineng Combined Hydropower Project, to be carried out by AboitizPower subsidiary Hedcor, will increase the capacity of the three Bineng plants from the current 5.48 MW to 19 MW.

Hedcor and the local government unit of La Trinidad signed on June 27 the Memorandum of Agreement to cover the project and the benefits for the locality.

Since its entry in Benguet in 1986, Hedcor has sustained its growth momentum. Starting from the rehabilitation of four hydroelectric power plants owned by the City of Baguio, the company later on constructed its own generation facilities in the municipalities of La Trinidad, Sablan, Tuba, Bakun, and Itogon.

Mayor Romeo Salda of La Trinidad welcomed the project. “We are positive that this development will have great impact on the municipality’s growth. The local government will play an active role in making this project a success," he said.

In addition to being a reliable power supplier, Hedcor and AboitizPower are strong partners in the socio-economic development of the community.

In 2016, the La Trinidad local government unit received about Php 77 million as its barangay and municipal share from the operation of the hydropower plants. Moreover, Hedcor's business tax, real property tax, and national wealth tax in 2016 reached Php 67 million.

The municipality of La Trinidad has also received corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects worth Php 13 million, to date. These projects include farm-to-market roads, school buildings, and loans to cooperatives involved in the cut flower business.

Barangay Bineng started cut flower production in early 1990s when they had steady access to electric power, which is needed for the greenhouses. Today, Bineng is one of the largest producer of cut flowers in Benguet.“Since 2006, Hedcor has been very supportive of our cooperative. With the financial assistance and trainings, we were able to support our cut flower businesses and make them thrive," said Lamut Multipurpose Cooperative member Bernard Waknisen.

The combined hydropower project of Hedcor is in line with AboitizPower's commitment to advancing business and communities. Moreover, it is a testament to the company's continued expansion of its renewable energy portfolio.

Currently, AboitizPower and its partners have a net sellable capacity of more than 1,200 MW from its renewable energy portfolio of geothermal, hydro, and solar power plants located all over the country. The company continues to grow its renewable portfolio with the construction of the 69-MW Manolo Fortich run-of-river hydro project in Bukidnon and the 8-MW Maris Canal hydro project in Isabela. Soon, it will commission its first biomass power plant through subsidiary Aseagas in Batangas.