FIRST GEN CORP. has secured authorization from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to develop its planned 120-megawatt (MW) Aya Pumped Storage Project in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for the project.
In an announcement on Monday, the Lopez-led power producer said it had signed a 25-year memorandum of agreement (MoA) with NIA authorizing the corporate to develop, construct, operate, and maintain the pumped-storage hydropower facility.
The agreement, which is renewable for one more 25 years, also gives First Gen the clearance and endorsement to secure the remaining permits needed for the project.
The Aya Pumped Storage Project, which was previously estimated to cost about P6 billion, is targeted to start business operations by 2030.
The project will utilize the Aya and Masiway reservoirs to store and generate electricity by pumping water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir during times of low electricity demand and releasing it through turbines to generate power when demand rises.
First Gen said the project is predicted to maximise the utilization of its existing hydropower assets in the realm, namely the 132-MW Pantabangan-Masiway plant and the 165-MW Casecnan plant.
“More facilities with storage and highly flexible operating parameters are key to stabilize the electricity grid, when it comes to addressing load variation and shifting energy supply to support evening peak demand. Project Aya will provide more resources for NIA to effectively manage priceless water resources,” First Gen Senior Vice-President Dennis Michael P. Gonzales said.
NIA Administrator Eddie G. Guillen said the project supports efforts to strengthen the country’s energy security while maximizing the usage of water resources.
“We reaffirm our shared commitment to advancing sustainable development, strengthening energy security, and maximizing the advantages of our water resources for future generations through the event of the Aya Pumped-Storage Project,” he said.
As of end-2025, First Gen had an installed renewable energy capability of 1,764.2 MW from its hydro, geothermal, solar, and wind facilities nationwide. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera