Binga Dam

{{Short description|Dam in Benguet, Philippines}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox dam | name = Binga Dam | image = Binga Dam.jpg | image_caption = | name_official = Binga Hydroelectric Power Plant<ref name="SunStar">{{Cite news |last=Catajan |first=Maria Elena |date=September 3, 2013 |title=Power Firm Ups Binga Dam Capacity to 125MW |work=Sun.Star Baguio |url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/local-news/2013/09/03/power-firm-ups-binga-dam-capacity-125mw-301261 |url-status=live |access-date=February 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210182827/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/local-news/2013/09/03/power-firm-ups-binga-dam-capacity-125mw-301261 |archive-date=February 10, 2015}}</ref> | dam_crosses = Agno River | location = Brgy. Tinongdan, Itogon, Benguet | dam_type = Storage, Earth and Rock fill | dam_length = {{convert|215|m}} | dam_height = {{convert|107.37|m}} | dam_width_base = | spillway_type = Tainter radial Gates, motor driven Hoist, Chain lift Type | spillway_capacity = | construction_began = August 1956<ref name= NAPOCOR /> | opening = May 1960<ref name= NAPOCOR /> | cost = $ 18.50 Million (at current price) | owner = {{bulleted list | National Power Corporation<ref name= NAPOCOR /> | SN Aboitiz Power{{nbhyph}}Benguet, Inc.}} | res_name = | res_capacity_total = 87.44 million cubic meters | res_catchment = | res_surface = | res_max_depth = {{convert|193|m}} | plant_operator = | plant_turbines = 4 units, Francis Vertical Shaft | plant_capacity = 140 MW | plant_commission = | plant_decommission = | location_map = Luzon mainland#Philippines | location_map_caption = Location in Luzon##Location in the Philippines | coordinates = {{coord|16|24|00|N|120|43|30|E|dim:30_region:PH_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | website = | extra = }}

'''Binga Dam''' is a dam in Agno River connected to a hydroelectric power plant situated at Barrio Binga, Barangay Tinongdan in the municipality of Itogon in Benguet province of the Philippines.

The dam was constructed in August 1956 and opened in May 1960 under the government-owned National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR), three years after its sister facility, the Ambuklao Dam. It is located {{convert|31|km}} southeast of Baguio and {{convert|19|km}} downstream of Ambuklao Dam within the Upper Agno River Basin Resource Reserve.<ref name="NAPOCOR">{{Cite web |title=Binga Dam |url=http://www.napocor.gov.ph/NPCDams/index.php/our-dams/binga-dam |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427020922/http://www.napocor.gov.ph/NPCDams/index.php/our-dams/binga-dam |archive-date=April 27, 2015 |access-date=February 10, 2015 |website=National Power Corporation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Binga Dam |url=http://www.nwin.nwrb.gov.ph/Prog&Proj/JICA/projects/water_resources/content/04binga.htm |access-date=February 20, 2012 |website=nwin.nwrb.gov.ph}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Improvement of the dam is ongoing, after it received heavy damage during the 1990 Luzon earthquake, and its installed capacity of 100 MW is being upgraded to 140MW.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zambrano |first=Joseph B. |date=November 17, 2011 |title=Binga Dam Undergoes Rehabilitation |work=Baguio News |url=http://www.baguionews.net/news2/index.php/8-benguet/3401-binga-dam-undergoes-rehabilitation |url-status=dead |access-date=February 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719022550/http://www.baguionews.net/news2/index.php/8-benguet/3401-binga-dam-undergoes-rehabilitation |archive-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref>

The Binga facility was constructed in 1956 for power generation and flood control. The dam and other non-power components are owned by the government through the National Power Corporation.<ref name="NAPOCOR" />

== Binga Hydro == On November 28, 2007, SNAP-Benguet won the public bid for Binga hydro and its neighboring power facility Ambuklao, which were sold as a package under the power sector privatization program of the Philippine government. It took over operations on July 10, 2008. Only the power components were privatized while the dams remain government-owned.

SNAP-Benguet is a joint venture between SN Power of Norway and Aboitiz Power Corporation of the Philippines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Binga Hydroelectric Power Plant |url=http://www.snaboitiz.com/?page_id=4732 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073349/http://www.snaboitiz.com/?page_id=4732 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=January 15, 2016 |website=SN Aboitiz}}</ref>

In 2010, Binga underwent refurbishment to increase its capacity from 100 MW to 125 MW. The project was completed in July 2013. In 2014, Binga underwent uprating work and increased its capacity to 140 MW.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SN Aboitiz's Binga Plant Gets Amended COC |url=http://www.mb.com.ph/sn-aboitizs-binga-plant-gets-amended-coc/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227203048/https://mb.com.ph/sn-aboitizs-binga-plant-gets-amended-coc/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 27, 2024 |access-date=January 15, 2016 |website=mb.com.ph |language=en}}</ref>

Binga hydro operates as a peaking plant and is also capable of providing ancillary services needed to stabilize the grid.

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{Commons-inline}} {{stack|{{Portal|Philippines|Water|Renewable energy}}}} {{Dams in the Philippines}} {{Agno River dams}}

Category:Dams in the Philippines Category:Hydroelectric power plants in the Philippines Category:Dams completed in 1960 Category:Buildings and structures in Benguet