Monday, March 19, 2007 Resumption of Ambuklao dam operation possible: official By Jane Cadalig
GIVEN enough funding, the Ambuklao Dam in Bokod, Benguet could revive its operations as efficiently as before.
Luis Angway Jr., operations and maintenance manager of the Ambuklao Hydroelectric Plant, said the possibility of having the power plant operated again is not an absurd idea provided the facilities are totally rehabilitated.
"It is very possible to have the dam operated again. All we need is money and the technical capability to rehabilitate the dam," Angway told reporters in a recent briefing at the state-owned power firm.
Bokod officials welcomed moves to rehabilitate the dam. Barangay Ambuklao chairman Pedro Anton said reviving the power plant's operations would generate employment for people in the community.
Ambuklao stopped generating electricity in August 1999 due to heavy siltation and the breakdown of its major facilities.
The three hydraulic turbines are leaking and Angway said these need to be dismantled for repairs to be done.
"It is not possible to run the (power) generators with leaking turbines. But we can't also dismantle the turbines as the water from the dam (reservoir) would flood the power house," said Angway. The power station houses the turbines, generator and the control room.
To be able to repair the turbines, Angway said the water from the reservoir must be diverted to prevent water from flowing to the intake tower.
"We can not insulate the power house from the dam and the ultimate remedy is to divert the water or seal the intake tower but we would need a special equipment to do this," he said.
Angway did not give any estimate on how much would be needed to rehabilitate the dam.
Giving estimates, he said, would preempt the bidding of the power plant. Rehabilitation of the dam is one of the major conditions contained in the terms of reference for the bidding of Ambuklao.
The 75-megawatts power plant was built in the 1950s. It used to be the biggest man-made dam in Asia.
Although it stopped operations, the National Power Corporation (Napocor) spends P1.3 million a month for the maintenance and other operating expenses of the power plant.
The dam is due for bidding to private firms as part of the government's move to privatize the NPC.
