Rio Norte Hydropower Corp., a subsidiary of Citicore Power Inc., is spending about P3 billion for the proposed 19.7-megawatt run-of-river Ilaguen hydropower project in Isabela province.
The company said in a report to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources it was planning to start the construction of the project this year, or once all permits and clearances were secured.
RNHC said energy demand was growing, particularly in Region 2, where development was accelerating at an unprecedented pace.
“It is projected that there will be a need for additional power-generating facilities for the coming years, not only in the province of Isabela but in the whole region as well,” it said.
RNHC said the Philippines has abundant indigenous resources that can be harnessed for power generation such as wind, geothermal and hydro.
“The development of the country’s hydropower resources is essential in meeting the energy demand over the succeeding years,” it said.
The Ilaguen hydro project is located in Barangay San Miguel, Echague, Isabela and covers a total area of 54.56 hectares.
The project is a combination of a run-off-river and weir type hydropower plant with capacity of 19.7 MW and can produce 111 million kilowatt-hours of power annually.
The hydro project will supply power to the cities of Cauayan and Santiago including the municipalities of Alicia, Angadanan, Cabatuan, Cordon, Echague, Jones, Luna, Ramon, Reina Mercedes, San Agustin, San Guillermo, San Isidro and San Mateo.
RNHC earlier tapped Xian Electric Engineering Co. Ltd., China’s biggest power transmission and distribution engineering company as the engineering, construction and procurement contractor of the hydro project eyed for completion by October 2024.
