JWPI to invest $350 M in Cebu hydropower plant
Philippine-based JBD Water Power Inc. (JWPI) plans to invest around $350 million in a hydropower plant and bulk water supply project as it looks to boost Cebu’s renewable energy (RE) and water supply.
JWPI is planning a 10-megawatt (MW) hydropower plant, with a 400 million liters per day (mlpd) bulk treated water supply project in Cebu City, based on documents submitted to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for public scoping.
It has initially estimated a project cost of $350 million, with the final cost determined after completing the feasibility and designs.
Pre-construction is expected to start in November this year with full construction slated next year.
The project’s commissioning and full operations are targeted in the first quarter and second quarter of 2025, respectively.
For the hydroelectric power project (HEPP), JWPI said it has secured a hydropower service contract from the Department of Energy (DOE) in March last year.
To be constructed in Consolacion, Cebu City, the 10-MW hydropower plant will have an estimated annual power generation of 45 gigawatthour (GWh) per year.
“For a 10-MW renewable energy plant, approximately 1,154,077.37 Mg of carbonequivalent Global Warming Potential with 100-year life is avoided, compared with a bitumen-fed equivalent power source,” JWPI said.
It is expected to power the water treatment and other components of the project.
On the other hand, the water treatment plant (WTP) will be located in lower elevation from the HEPP and will receive feed water of high quality, by gravity.
The project will involve extracting water from the Guinabasan River in the Municipality of Asturias and transferring it to a storage weir located along the Balamban River in the Municipality
of Balamban.
A 25-kilometer-long bulk water delivery pipeline will be provided to deliver water to Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) Casili Reservoir, Mandaue, Mactan, Cebu City and Talisay.
A separate line will also be provided to supply water for the municipalities of Balamban, through Balamban Water District, and Asturias, through its local cooperatives.
“When all of the facilities are completed, the system can deliver 400 million liters per day (MLD) of treated water to Metro Cebu, Balamban, Asturias and/or other parts of Western Cebu,” JWPI said.