SN Aboitiz Power-Magat said Friday it formed an environmental monitoring team for a $47.1-million hydroelectric power plant in Isabela province to comply with the government’s requirement.
SN Aboitiz said the monitoring team for Maris South Canal Hydroelectric Power Plant was formalized after a two-day meeting and an ocular inspection of the project site in Barangay Ambatali, Ramon, Isabela.
The formation of the team was required before the Environment Department could issue an environmental compliance certificate to the 8.5-megawatt hydroelectric power plant along the Maris Main (South) Canal.
Maris Main South Canal Hydroelectric Power Plant will be developed by SNAP-Magat as a run-of-river plant.
It aims to generate additional electricity for the Luzon grid by utilizing the irrigation flow from Maris Reservoir into Maris Main (South) Diversion Canal.
The project is expected to be completed in November 2017, with an estimated project cost of $47.1 million.
It is also covered by a memorandum of agreement with the National Irrigation Administration, the government agency that owns and operates Magat dam and Maris re-regulating dam.
The plant will use the same irrigation water released from the Maris Reservoir for the Maris Main (South) Diversion Canal and will not affect the current irrigation water supply.
SNAP-Magat also owns and operates the 360-MW Magat hydro power plant at the border of Isabela and Ifugao. It is a joint venture of SN Power of Norway and Aboitiz Power Corp.
The monitoring team is composed of 11 members from SNAP-Magat, Environment Department-Environment Management Bureau Region 2, Agriculture Department Region 2, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 2, Environment and Natural Resources Office in Isabela, National Irrigation Administration-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System, Cenro-San Isidro, local governments of Ambatali and Ramon, Ambatali Elementary School and RamCor, the Council of Irrigators’ Association.