Manila Electric Co. and Pure Energy Holdings Corp.’s subsidiary Repower Energy Development Corp. broke ground for a 10.6-megawatt run-of-river hydropower project in Pulanai River, Bukidnon.
The parties formed Pure Meridian Hydropower Corp., the joint venture company, to oversee and operate the P2.7-billion Pulanai hydropower project in Lumbayao, Valencia City, Bukidnon.
“This will be PMHC’s vanguard project in Mindanao and will serve as a platform to roll out more run-of-river projects in the near future. This is a legacy project that we are building for the benefit of the next generations to come,” said Pure Meridian president and Pure Energy chairman Dexter Tiu.
The project is expected to generate over 74 gigawatt-hours annually.
President Rodrigo Duterte expressed support for the project and warned rebel groups against touching the project.
“I am very happy that the company has decided to utilize renewable hydroelectric power. This is something which everyone is part of, NGO’s and even Europeans are part of this fight against climate change,” Duterte said.
The Pulanai hydropower plant, once operational, will supply clean, sustainable and renewable energy to the Mindanao grid over the next 100 years.
The project is expected to start operation by the first half of 2019. It will also employ more than 400 people during the construction phase.