First Gen to increase Pantabangan capacity by 18MW

First Gen Hydro Power Corp. will be increasing the capacity of the 100-megawatt Pantabangan power plant by 18 MW, and extending the life of the 30-year old facility by 25 years. In a statement to the Philippine Stock Exchange, First Gen said its unit First Gen Hydro has commissioned Austrian firm VA Tech Hydro to undertake the upgrade The company did not disclose how much will be spent for the project. “The refurbishment and upgrade project will extend the life of the power plant by an additional 25 years and improve plant efficiency and performance by increasing capacity," First Gen said. The company said the two-unit plant will be upgraded one machine at a time, one year apart. Refurbishment of the first unit is scheduled between July and December 2009, while that of the second unit by December 2010. “The refurbishment and upgrade project signals the implementation of the initial phase of First Gen Hydro’s expansion program, which includes investing in additional units for each of the Pantabangan and Masiway Hydroelectric Power Plants to increase their combined capacity by 78MW," the company said. - GMANews.TV