Ambuklao Dam and Hydroelectric Plant
Location within the Philippines
Official name	Ambuklao Dam
Country	Philippines
Location	Bokod, Benguet
Coordinates	16°27′38″N 120°44′42″E / 16.460419°N 120.744885°E / 16.460419; 120.744885
Construction began	July 1950
Opening date	December 23, 1956
Construction cost	Php 132,000,000 (66,000,000 USD)
Owner(s)	National Power Corporation
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Central Core Rock-fill Embankment
Impounds	Agno River
Height	129 m (423 ft)
Length	452 m (1,483 ft)
Width (base)	8.50 m (27.9 ft)
Spillways	8
Reservoir
Creates	Ambuklao reservoir
Total capacity	327,170,000 m3 (427,920,000 cu yd) with no sedimentation
Active capacity	258,000,000 m3 (337,000,000 cu yd) with no sedimentation
Catchment area	690 km2 (270 sq mi)
Surface area	7.5 km2 (2.9 sq mi)
Power Station
Turbines	3 units, Francis horizontal shaft
Installed capacity	75 MW, 105 MW after rehabilitation (2011)
Annual generation	332 GWh (1,200 TJ)

Ambuklao Dam is part of a hydroelectric facility in Baragay Ambuclao, Bokod, Benguet province in the Philippines. With a maximum water storage capacity of 327,170,000 cubic metres (265,240 acre⋅ft), the facility, which is located 36 km (22 mi) from Baguio city, can produce up to 105 megawatts of electricity to the Luzon grid. The main source of water comes from the Agno River, which originates from Mount Data. The dam is located in a conservation area known as the Upper Agno River Basin Resource Reserve.^[1]

The dam and other non-power components are owned by the government through the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR).^[2] The name of the dam is also used as a metonym for National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) power lines and their associated poles and towers.

Ambuklao Hydro

Ambuklao reservoir

The Ambuklao Hydroelectric Power Plant is one of the oldest power plants in the country and was among the first large hydroelectric power plants constructed in the Philippines. The development of the Agno River for purposes of hydroelectric power generation, flood control, and irrigation had been conceived as early as the late 1940s. Preliminary investigations for development at the Ambuklao and Binga Dam sites were undertaken as early as January 1948. Running along the upper portion of the Agno River, Ambuklao Hydro was constructed for power generation and flood control.

In July 1990, a massive earthquake hit Luzon, resulting in siltation and technical problems that affected the plant's operations. Ambuklao was eventually decommissioned in 1999.

On November 28, 2007, SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet, Inc. (SNAP-Benguet) won the public bid for Ambuklao and its neighboring power facility Binga, which were sold as a package under the power sector privatization program of the Philippine government. SNAP-Benguet is a joint venture between SN Power of Norway and Aboitiz Power Corporation.^[3]

SNAP-Benguet began a massive rehabilitation project that restored Ambuklao to operating status and increased its capacity from 75 MW to 105 MW. The project required 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. In June 2011, Unit 3 became the first turbine unit to go on-line, followed by the other two units. Ambuklao was formally inaugurated in October 2011.^[4]

Ambuklao is designed as a peaking plant and is capable of delivering energy and providing ancillary services needed to stabilize the grid.

References