A group of companies led by Aboitiz Renewables, Inc. (ARI) has been awarded control of a large hydroelectric power facility in the Philippines. This was confirmed in a statement by Aboitiz Power Corporation.
The Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan Hydroelectric Power Plant Complex, located in Laguna, will be transferred to a consortium called Thunder Consortium. This group includes ARI, Japan-based Sumitomo Corporation, and Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. The award was given by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM), which manages government-owned energy assets.
The complex has a total installed capacity of 728 megawatts. It includes Caliraya and Botocan, which are run-of-river facilities, and Kalayaan, which is a pumped-storage plant. The consortium is now expected to complete post-award steps before taking full control of operations.
This sale is part of PSALM’s long-standing process to privatize energy assets. No purchase amount or timeline for the handover was given in the official filing.
Aboitiz Renewables, the renewable arm of Aboitiz Power, is already involved in different energy technologies. These include large and small hydro, geothermal, wind, solar, and battery systems. The company manages power from both grid-connected and off-grid systems.
Aside from this hydro complex, Aboitiz has worked on less public renewable energy projects. In Bukidnon, Philippines, the 3.5-megawatt Cabanglasan run-of-river hydro plant is being developed to supply local communities. It helps deliver energy to areas outside the main electricity grid.
In Palawan, Aboitiz also supports a hybrid 2.3-megawatt solar-diesel microgrid. This project serves remote households and small businesses. It includes battery storage and is operated in partnership with a local electric cooperative.
Another ongoing project is a solar irrigation system in Negros Occidental. This pilot setup uses a 0.5-megawatt solar array to power water pumps for farming. It runs during daylight and does not use fuel.
