Despite the 110 day delay, Hedcor’s run-of-river hydro project in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon is already 50% complete, the Aboitiz Power subsidiary said.
The construction of the P13 billion twin hydroelectric projects of Hedcor Inc. was delayed due to continuous rainfall and geological concerns, company officials said on Tuesday.
“Our workers are encountering soft rock during our excavation work. The sides of the mountain keep on collapsing on us,” Hedcor vice president for business development Gregorio Jabonilla said.
Despite this, excavation works within the 74-hectare construction are due for completion in a few months.
Jabonilla said that La Nina, which brings heavy rains in the afternoons, is an additional problem. He said workers have to resort to measures like pile construction to support the soft soil formation in the work site.
“We would have preferred stronger granite rocks to work on. At least these will not collapse and cause delays,” he said.
However, he remains positive that the project will be completed by 2017 as planned.
Manolo Fortich is Hedcor’s first hydropower project in Bukidnon, and will source its supply from rivers Tanaon, Guihean and Amusig and will empty into the Tagoloan river.
Just last month, Sta. Clara, the contractor of Hedcor, was recognized for one million safe hours without a lost time accident on the Manolo Fortich Hydro 2 project.