DOE to offer new geothermal prospects
The Department of Energy (DOE) has been assessing new areas that it could offer to prospective investors under its open and competitive selection process (OCSP) scheme.
In an interview with reporters, DOE director Mario Marasigan has noted that they are looking at low-enthalpy geothermal sites to be included in the next batch of OCSP tender.
“We are conducting resource assessment and we’re going to offer them to the private sector through the OCSP,” he stressed.
Low enthalpy geothermal resources can be tapped for power generation but with the application of specific technologies. Enthalpy measures the thermodynamic or heat level of a geothermal resource.
Marasigan has explained that a conventional geothermal site is typically at 250 degrees centigrade; and anything below that could already be classified as “low-enthalpy geothermal resource.”
To date, the DOE official has noted that they have two sites ready for offer – the Balut Island geothermal prospect in Davao del Sur; and the other one is Tingloy site in Batangas.
“Tingloy is under further study to enhance data before offering,” the energy official has emphasized.
Marasigan added that the Balut geothermal site will be re-offered as there had been no taker in the last bidding round.
“There were no takers… but it is still being considered for further exploration because the resource might be substantial. There might just be some needed justification to costs,” he indicated.
In the last bid round, Marasigan has noted that Amacan geothermal prospect in Compostela Valley and Cabalian site in Southern Leyte were already offered, but the submitted tenders are still undergoing evaluation.
The next OCSP though may not necessarily happen this year because the energy department will still need to work on the next package of prospect areas to be included in the auction.
“It will be similar to the last OCSP. There would be some series of activities and we will also have regional consultations to discuss the issues,” Marasigan said.