EDC PLANS TO BOOST GEOTHERMAL PLANTS

THE Energy Development Corp. ( EDC) is planning a minimal expansion of its geothermal power plants over the next few years, its official said.

In a chance interview on Wednesday, EDC President and Chief Operating Officer Richard Tantoco said the Lopezled company is planning to increase the capacity of these facilities by up to 60 megawatts ( MW) over the next two years.

“For the next two years, [we’ll boost the capacity of the plants by about] mga 50-60 MW,” Tantoco said at the sidelines of the 1st Philippine International Geothermal Conference held in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

To jump-start the capacity expansion, EDC is looking at optimization of the geothermal assets including its facility in Leyte.

“We’re working on partnerships,” Tantoco said. “We’re very interested to invest, so we’re looking for partners.”

A subsidiary of listed First Gen Corp., EDC is engaged in exploring, developing, operating, and utilizing geothermal energy and other indigenous renewable energy sources for electricity generation with an installed capacity of 1,471.8 MW.

EDC owns and operates the 232.5- MW Malitbog, 180- MW Mahanagdong, 125- MW Upper Mahiao, and 112.5- MW Tongonan geothermal plants, all under the Tongonan Geothermal Project in Leyte.

It runs the 112.5-MW Palinpinon I, 60-MW Palinpinon II, and 49.4-MW Nasulo geothermal projects within the Southern Negros Geothermal Project.

EDC’s Bacon-Manito Geothermal Project in the Bicol region is composed of the 120-MW BacMan I and 20-MW Bac-Man II, while the Mt. Apo Geothermal Project has the 52-MW Mindanao I and 54-MW Mindanao II.