The plant – which is owned by SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet, Inc (SNAP-Benguet) – was reopened in a ceremony on the 26 October, although commercial operations at the plant restarted on 1 June.
The Ambuklao plant upgrade involved the construction of a new intake, headrace and penstock, elevation of tailrace tunnel outlet, de-silting of tailrace tunnel and replacement of electro-mechanical components.
Built in 1956, Ambuklao was the first among the country’s largest hydroelectric power plants with an original installed capacity of 75MW. Siltation and other technical problems caused by the 1990 earthquake that struck Benguet led to suspension of plant operations in 1999.
SNAP-Benguet is a joint venture company between SN Power of Norway and Aboitiz Power.
