A group of environmental activists called on on the government on Wednesday to fast track the proposed rehabilitation of Bukidnon’s Agus-Pulangui hydropower complex (APHPC).
“This effort will help Mindanao reap the benefits of a clean energy facility that was under-utilized for decades,” said Gerry Arances, convenor of the Power of People Coalition (P4P).
The group said repair and maintenance works must start immediately to address the energy situation in the country, especially in Mindanao.
Arances said the skyrocketing prices of electricity “demonstrate to us the urgency of moving away from fossil fuels.”
“Mindanao now has the opportunity to do that,” he said, adding that Agus-Pulangui should be the starting point for a “rapid and massive transition” from coal and fossil fuel-based energy.
The Department of Finance has earlier announced that it will undertake the power facility’s rehabilitation estimated at PhP16.71 billion to be funded through a loan.
Although the planned rehabilitation has not yet been approved by the National Economic and Development Authority, the Finance department said it is now fine-tuning a proposed arrangement with the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation and the National Power Corporation.
Arances said the government should take this opportunity to make the project sustainable.
“We should not undermine Mindanao and the Philippines’ massive potential and right to access climate and clean energy finance,” he said, adding that the effort should not become a precedent to potential privatization of the facilities.
The project is divided into two phases.
The first series will involve the rehabilitation of the Agus IV, V, VI, and VII plants in the APHPC, which is expected to generate a total rated capacity of 417.1 megawatts, said Melchor Ridulme.
The second series will rehabilitate Agus I, II, and the Pulangi IV plants, which will generate a total rated capacity of 515 MW.
Out of the 1,001 MW of installed capacity of the APHC, only 600-700 MW is currently available, partly because of the limitations of its equipment.
The Series of Project (SOP) 1 is estimated to cost PhP10.19 billion, while SOP 2 is about PhP6.52 billion, based on a study done by the World Bank (WB).
