RIZAL, Nueva Ecija – Nueva Ecija is eyed to be the capital for mini-hydro power plants, which is seen to liberate consumers from skyrocketing prices of electricity, as the Philippine National Oil Company- Renewables Corporation (PNOC-RC) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) bind together to establish small plants along the latter’s main canals.
This developed as a P90-million one-megawatt hydro power plant at a section of Pampanga River Irrigation System Main Canal in Poblacion West was officially launched in a ground-breaking ceremony on Friday.
“This water might have been crying in silence for over twenty years, saying it can light up your residences at night while providing irrigation to your plants,” said Carlos Jose Gatmaitan, PNOC-RC president even as he said that while the construction of the new plant is on-going they will continue to search for more spots suited for hydro-power generation.
This, on top of six sites already identified, one of which is the 500-kilowatt hydropower plant to be located along Super Diversion Canal Lateral C of the NIA in Science City of Munoz. The preliminary design of this one is ongoing as the project is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2014.
“Habang ginagawa itong hydropower plant na ito, ang aming mga tauhan ay patuloy na hahanap ng mga bagong lugar para paglagyan ng turbina,” Gatmaitan said. The PNOC-RC explained that the projects are aimed at harnessing hydropower from irrigation systems.
The canal gates located in Barangay Poblacion West, Rizal will serve as diversion for a penstock that will deliver water to two 500-MW turbines in the power plant just below. The project is expected to be commissioned in May 2015 and will benefit the community through a power sales agreement with the Talavera-based Nueva Ecija Electric Cooperative II.
Reynaldo Villanueva, president of Neeco II, said the cooperative will buy electricity produced by Rizal PRIS plant at P4 which is 60 centavos lower than the P4.60 from the First Gen Hydro Power Corporation. This will also provide stability to power supply in Rzal town which consumes an average of 2MW.
Mayor Rafaelito Andres expressed hope the existence of the hydropower plant in town will serve as an engine of economic growth in this second class municipality, located along the Sierra Madre mountain range. “Mas bababa ang presyo ng kuryente at malalagyan ng kuryente ang buong bayan,” he said.
According to the NIA, the agency will generate P700,000 in annual revenue from the power plant that will be used to improve irrigation and “other agricultural services” that will benefit farmers of host municipality.
“In line with the President’s thrust of energy security at a lower cost, we commit to work hand in hand with you to maximize the use of our water resources and to safeguard our investments,” a ranking NIA official said.
