THE Philippine Geothermal Production Co. Inc. (PGPC) is conducting exploration and development activities for new geothermal energy sources in various parts of Luzon.
The company said its new project concession sites are located in geothermal rich areas within the provinces of Kalinga, Benguet, Cagayan, Quezon, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.
PGPC added these projects aim to establish fully operational geothermal fields capable of generating between 250 to 400 megawatts (MW) of additional renewable baseload power from which energy can be readily dispatched to power plants and other prospective off-takers.
“With these projects slated for completion within the next five to seven years, they will be sources of additional renewable baseload power that will help reduce the risk of power supply shortages in the Luzon powergrid,” said Napoleon Saporsantos Jr., PGPC president, in a statement.
Saporsantos cited the socioeconomic benefits of the projects, noting that from the exploration and development phase all the way up to commercial operation, these geothermal power projects are expected to create over 2,000 jobs, with priority given to hiring qualified local residents in host communities.
PGPC pioneered Southeast Asia’s first commercial geothermal power project in 1971 and currently operates the Tiwi steam field in Albay and the Mak-Ban steam field spanning Laguna and Batangas.
PGPC has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of SM Investments Corp. since 2017.
