SN Aboitiz Power's (SNAP) 105MW Ambuklao Hydroelectric plant in the Philippines has passed the certification audit for Environmental Management System (EMS) conducted by TUV Rheinland with zero non-conformity.

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SN Aboitiz Power’s (SNAP) 105MW Ambuklao Hydroelectric plant in the Philippines has passed the certification audit for Environmental Management System (EMS) conducted by TUV Rheinland with zero non-conformity.

Located in Bokod in Benguet, Ambuklao is the last of the three power plants of SNAP Group to secure the ISO 14001:2004 certification for its EMS. The 360MW Magat plant in Isabela and Ifugao was certified in 2012 while the Binga plant in Itogon, Benguet received its certification in 2013. (See also Transforming the Binga hydroelectric plant for an article on the extensive refurbishment carried out at the plant from 2011-2013)

Ambuklao was turned over to SNAP in 2008, after a successful privatization process. It had not been operating at full capacity due to technical problems caused during the earthquake that struck Luzon in 1990, and it was eventually decommissioned in 1999. The plant went back online in 2011 following an unprecedented rehabilitation project by SNAP that increased its capacity from 75MW to 105MW.

EMS certification indicates a company’s commitment to monitoring, managing and improving its environmental performance. It means that the company has identified significant environmental aspects of its operations and that it is taking steps to manage them through effective means.

"As part of SNAP’s target for world-class operations, we have been pursuing certification in various international standards. The successful audit of Ambuklao completes the certification of SNAP’s three power plants in workplace health and safety, quality, and environmental management, which began as early as 2009," said SNAP President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Rubio.
SNAP is a joint venture between SN Power of Norway and AboitizPower.


Image: The 105MW Ambuklao project, courtesy of SN Power