SNAPB (SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet Inc., a Joint Venture between SN Power of Norway and Aboitiz of the Philippines) won in November 2007 a public auction for the acquisition of the two hydroelectric plants called Ambuklao and Binga located in the Benguet Province, Nothern Luzon.
The 3x25 = 75 MW Ambuklao plant was commissioned in 1956, but has been out of operation since 1999. The 4x25 = 100 MW Binga plant was commissioned in 1960 and is in need of a major rehabilitation. Both plants draw water from reservoirs where active volumes have been significantly reduced by sediment accumulation. The sediments are also impeding operation of the intakes.
The Project consists of rehabilitation of civil structures including intake, access tunnels and tailrace outlet and electro-mechanical equipment.
Norconsult is SNAPBs engineer in design of rehabilitation works, preparation of tender documents for both civil works and electro-mechanical equipment, tender evaluation, negotiations of contracts and supervision of rehabilitation works and installations. Due to damage to the closing devices of the Ambuklao intake innovative engineering has been performed for valve leak reduction and plugging of the existing power tunnel. Norconsult also assisted the investor to identify and screen the projects prior to submission of the bids for the plants.
A split contract approach for supplies based on FIDIC White, Yellow and Red books has been applied. From preparation of tender documents through contract negotiations a contract structure has been developed harmonising contract conditions, specifications etc. throughout the set of contracts according to lenders requirements. In this way the structuring of the project including contracts represent a new and more cost-effective solution than the EPC contract. As owners engineer Norconsult has been instrumental in this, drawing on past experience and in close cooperation with SNAPB