Chinese firms in talks for new plants in Agus-Pulangi hydro complexes

DAVAO CITY — Chinese companies are now in talks with the government and potential local private sector partners for the development of two additional hydroelectric power plants at the Agus and Pulangi complexes in Mindanao that could produce about 550 megawatts (MW) of new supply.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Deputy Executive Director Romeo M. Montenegro said these two proposed plants — the Agus 3 project in Lanao del Sur that could produce about 250 MW and the Pulangi 5 project in Bukidnon with a 300-MW output — are expected to help balance the Mindanao energy mix between renewable and fossil fuel by 2030.

Mr. Montenegro, speaking at the weekly Habi at Kape media forum here yesterday, said Pulangi 5 was among the projects agreed upon when President Rodrigo R. Duterte visited China last year, while Chinese companies have also started discussing with their Filipino counterparts the development of the Agus 3.

“We hope these projects can be completed within the term of President Duterte,” he said, adding that the government is optimistic that the Chinese companies, which he declined to identify for now, “can firm up their plans so that the projects will be a go.”

The Agus 3 has long been planned, but the government has not pursued it due to questions on the ownership of the land area that it will cover.