Power firm braces for Kibungan vote on hydro project

THE Cordillera Hydro Electric Power Corporation (Coheco) is bracing for the voting on a new hydro project for Kibungan town, Benguet.

The National Commission for Indigenous Peoples is in the midst of conducting the Free Prior and Informed Consent in Madaymen in time for the scheduled voting on July for the Kibungan Pumped Storage Hydro Electric Project bankrolled by the Coheco-Badeo worth P35 billion that will make a major contribution to the country’s source of energy, livelihood and tourism particularly in Benguet.

The projects is expected to generate 500 megawatts of electricity using an impounding facility on a 15.2-hectare land, which will be located on a higher elevation, and capable of producing more power that will emanate from the pressure created by the higher source of water.

Koreans Howon Kim and James Kim with Engineer Jason Polinag presented the project last week in a bid to spread the word in the first pumped storage project in the country to be piloted in Benguet if consent of the people is acquired.

The Barangay Council of Badeo in Kibungan earlier gave their go signal to the proposed project through a resolution.

Badeo has given its support for the project, detailing consent for the different activities needed to be undertaken in the municipality and ancestral domain of Kibungan with the conduct of feasibility studies leading to the anticipated vote next month.

Kim said the project needs a strength of 3,200 cubic meters of water all coming from the river to sustain the project which they explained will not deprive the community of supply if the project commences.

The project aims to start construction on December 2017 to be able to contribute to the National Grid and to help alleviate the increasing electricity demand of the country. (Maria Elena Catajan)

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