Magat Dam
| Magat Dam | |
|---|---|
 The dam, with its entrance sign in the foreground | |
  Location in Luzon  Location in the Philippines | |
| Location | Alfonso Lista,Ifugao/Ramon,Isabela |
| Coordinates | 16°49′30″N121°27′14″E/ 16.82500°N 121.45389°E |
| Construction began | 1978 |
| Opening date | 1982 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Rock-fill dam |
| Impounds | Magat River |
| Height | 114 m (374 ft) |
| Length | 4,160 m (13,650 ft) |
| Reservoir | |
| Surface area | 11.7 km2(4.5 sq mi) |
| Maximum water depth | 193 m (633 ft) |
| Power Station | |
| Installed capacity | 360MW |
Magat Damis a large rock-filldamin the island ofLuzonin thePhilippines.The dam is located along theMagat River,a major tributary of theCagayan River.The construction of the dam started in 1975 and was completed in 1982. It is one of the largest dams in the Philippines. It is a multi-purpose dam which is used primarily for irrigating about 85,000 hectares (210,000 acres) of agricultural lands,[1]flood control,and power generation through the Magat Hydroelectric Power Plant.
The water stored in the reservoir is enough to supply about two months of normal energy requirements.[1]
History
[edit]The construction and appurtenant structures were authorized by Presidential Decree No/ 693 signed on May 7, 1975, by then PresidentFerdinand E. Marcos.The Magat Dam was constructed in 1978, inaugurated by Marcos on October 27, 1982,[1]and started operations in 1983.[2]
Implementation of this multipurpose project was based on the preliminary study conducted in 1973 by theNational Irrigation Administration(NIA) with the assistance of theUnited States Bureau of Reclamation(USBR) and theUnited States Agency for International Development(USAID).
Subsequent detailed and extensive dam site investigation and engineering studies further confirmed the feasibility of what is now known as NIA's most daring infrastructure project and one of Asia's biggest dams today.
It wasSoutheast Asia's first large multipurpose dam.[3]The dam is part of the Magat River Multipurpose Project (MRMP) which was financed by theWorld Bankand whose purpose is to improve on the existing Magat River Irrigation System (MARIS) and to triple the production of rice in theCagayan Riverbasin.[1]
The project was jointly financed by thePhilippine Governmentand theWorld Bankwhich extended a US$150M loan to finance the foreign exchange requirement. In addition, a US$9M loan fromBahrainwas obtained for the purchase of other equipment for the diversion tunnel, soil laboratory and model testing. The total project cost is US$3.4B (yr. 1975).
The dam was constructed to last for 50 years but increasedsiltationandsedimentationin the reservoir,slash-and-burnfarming,illegal loggingand fish-caging resulted in the deterioration of the dam's watershed. The1990 Luzon earthquakealso contributed to the increased siltation in the Magat River system. Because of this, in January 2006, then PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyoinstructed various government agencies to create a rehabilitation plan to improve the lifespan of the dam system.[3]
The non-power components such as the dam, reservoir, and intake gates are owned, operated, and managed by theNational Irrigation Administration(NIA). The hydroelectric plant was formerly owned by theNational Power Corporation(NAPOCOR).[1]Under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (Republic ActNo. 9136), the Magat hydroelectric power plant underwent aprivatizationprocess. As a result, the plant's ownership and operation was turned over toSN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc.(SNAP-Magat), a joint venture of a local company,Aboitiz Power Corporation(AP), and a Norwegian firmSN Powerin April 2007.[1]SNAP won the bidding in 2006.[4]
Geography
[edit]The dam is located within the boundaries of Namillangan,Alfonso Lista,IfugaoandRamon,Isabela,approximately 350 kilometres (220 mi) north ofMetro Manila.
Magat River
[edit]The Magat Dam is on theMagat River,which is the largest tributary of theCagayan Riveron the island ofLuzon.[5]Cagayan is the longest river in the Philippines.[5]The Magat River has an estimated yearly water discharge of 9,808 million cubic metres and has an approximate crest length of 4,160 metres (13,650 ft) with its headwaters in the province ofNueva Vizcayaand its confluence with the Cagayan River in the province ofIsabela.
Features
[edit]Spillway
[edit]
- Length: 500 metres (1,600 ft)
- Width: 164 metres (538 ft)
- Discharge capacity: 30,600 cubic meters
- Radial Gates: 7 sets
- Orifice Gates: 2 sets
Diversion tunnels
[edit]- Number: 2
- Diameter: 2 metres (6.6 ft)
- Average length: 630 metres (2,070 ft)
Reservoir
[edit]- Storage Capacity at Full Supply Level (FSL): 1.08 billion cubic meters[6]
- Elevation at FSL: 193 masl[6]
- Minimum Supply Level: 160 masl[6]
- Maximum Flood Level: 193 masl[6]
Power
[edit]
- Installed capacity: 360MegaWatts
- Turbine: 4 units, Francis vertical shaft
- Generator: 4 units x 90 MW, vertical synchronous
Access
[edit]It is connected by an all-weather road to San Mateo–Santiago Road at Oscariz, Ramon, Isabela some 350 kilometres (220 mi) north of Metro Manila.
Magat Hydro
[edit]The Magathydroelectric powerplant is a four-unit powerhouse with an installed capacity of 360megawatts.[1]It is designed to accommodate two more units[7]that will allow it to generate up to 540 megawatts. The hydroelectric plant is apeaking power plant,[1]which means that it only operates when there is a high demand for electricity in the Luzon power grid, to which the plant is connected.[8]It is capable of providingancillary servicesfor the stability of the grid, and was augmented by a 24 MWbatteryin 2024.[9]
SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc. completed the half-life refurbishment of the Magat Hydroelectric Power Plant in 2014. Refurbishment began in 2009 and was completed in June 2014.[10]Half-life refurbishment ensures that the power plant facility remains available throughout its life span.
Discharge-induced floods
[edit]In November 2020,Typhoon Vamco(locally known in the Philippines as Typhoon Ulysses) crossed the country, dams from all around Luzon neared their spilling points, forcing them to release large amounts of water into their impounds including Magat Dam. The dam opened all of its 7 gates at 24 metres (79 ft), releasing over 5,037 cubic metres (1,331,000 US gal) of water into the Cagayan River flooding numerous riverside towns. Waters under theBuntun Bridgewent up as high as 13 metres (43 ft), flooding the nearby barangays up to the roofs of houses.[11][12]Prior to the flooding, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said Sunday it had already warned residents of Cagayan and Isabela of Magat Dam's water release two days prior to Typhoon Ulysses' landfall on November 11.[13]As a result of the catastrophe, the NIA said that it will review its protocols regarding the release of water in Magat Dam and improve its watershed.[14]
References
[edit]- ^abcdefgh"Magat Hydro: Environmental & Social Review Summary"– International Finance Corporation (World Bank)
- ^"Magat Hydro".ifcext.ifc.org.RetrievedJanuary 14,2016.
- ^ab"Arroyo orders officials to formulate plan for massive rehabilitation of Magat Dam".Manila Bulletin.January 6, 2006.RetrievedApril 21,2008.
- ^"Ifugao, Isabela share natl wealth tax over Magat dam after legal battle".GMANews.TV.GMA Network. April 4, 2008.RetrievedApril 21,2008.
- ^ab"The Cagayan River Basin"– PAGASA.Accessed on April 21, 2008.
- ^abcd"Magat".snaboitiz.RetrievedJanuary 14,2016.
- ^"Phillippines [sic] – SNPower ".snpower.RetrievedJanuary 14,2016.
- ^Visaya, Villamor Jr. (July 29, 2007). "Gov't starts cloud-seeding over Magat dam".INQUIRER.net.Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- ^Colthorpe, Andy (February 5, 2024)."Philippines: Scatec-Aboitiz Power JV begins operation of battery storage at hydroelectric plant".Energy-Storage.News.
- ^"Magat".snaboitiz.RetrievedJanuary 14,2016.
- ^"Robredo assures Cagayan Valley: We heard you, gov't finding ways to reach you".November 13, 2020.
- ^"Cagayan province turned into 'Pacific Ocean': Disaster management official".November 13, 2020.
- ^"Residents near Ipo, Ambuklao, Binga, and Magat dams warned of flooding as reservoirs continue to release water".Manila Bulletin.
- ^"NIA to review protocols on Magat Dam water release after Cagayan, Isabela floods".November 17, 2020.
External links
[edit]
Media related toMagat Damat Wikimedia Commons
| Luzon | |
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| Visayas | |
| Mindanao | |
Planned, proposed, and under construction systems are initalics. | |
