The National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the Provincial Government of Northern Samar look forward to improved electricity rates and services for the member-consumer-owners (MCOs) of the Northern Samar Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NORSAMELCO) with its soon-to-rise 3.18-megawatt Mawo Hydroelectric Power Plant.

NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda joined Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan on Saturday, 09 November 2024, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the project. It will be constructed at Brgy. Happy Valley in San Isidro, Northern Samar.

The Mawo Hydroelectric Power Plant is a joint venture between the Energy & Building Applications Technologies Corp. (EBATECH) and NORSAMELCO. It will be part of both firms’ contributions towards the sustainable energy initiatives of both the national and local governments.

The embedded power generation facility will be designed to harness the San Isidro Mawo River for the benefit of households and enterprises under the franchise area of Norsamelco. The project is expected to be completed and operational by January 1, 2028.

According to a project briefer, this power plant will significantly reduce generation costs passed on to the MCOs of Norsamelco by P0.4482 per kilowatt hour, equivalent to P84,005,474 in annual rates. It is also projected to boost vital energy assets of the Cataraman-based electric cooperative.

Under the joint venture agreement, NORSAMELCO has 20-percent ownership interest. The NEA already approved the construction of the project and the companies involved have likewise secured the consent of the communities in Happy Valley and San Isidro.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also issued certificate of incorporation for the EBATECH-NORSAMELCO Energy Corporation, which grants juridical personality to both organizations that will be jointly operating the power plant.

Also present at the groundbreaking ceremony were Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan Vice Governor Clarence Dato, San Isidro Councilor Joel Sampayan, Deputy Administrators Engr. Butch Silvano and Atty. Vic Alvaro, Professor Wali Del Mundo, NORSAMELCO Acting General Manager Engr. Hector Tabilisma, EBATECH President/CEO Engr. Ernesto Abunda, Jr., Joint Venture President Engr. Kelvin Thomas Abunda, FRECOR 8 General Managers Allan Laniba, Atty. Edison Piczon, Atty. Jose Michael Edwin Amancio, Joey Talon, NEA Department Manager Ruth Ramirez, Division Manager Engr. Raymond Napilot and Project Supervisor Bhoyet Acuesta. ###