BY MYRNA VELASCO

The ongoing geothermal exploration and development activities of the Sy-led Philippine Geothermal Production Company, Inc. (PGPC) will beef up the country’s baseload power capacity by up to 400 megawatts (MW), once the steam output would already be fed into offtaker-generating facilities.

PGPC indicated that its exploration and drilling ventures have been advancing across five geothermal-rich sites in Luzon – primarily in the provinces of Kalinga, Benguet, Cagayan, Quezon, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte.

“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,” the company said.

PGPC is a wholly owned subsidiary of SM Investments Corporation (SMIC), a conglomerate owned by the Sys that has diversified ventures on shopping malls, real estate, banking as well as in other industries.

According to PGPC President Napoleon L. Saporsantos, Jr., the targeted completion of the projects will be within a span of 5-7 years, and once these will get into commercial stream, “they will be sources of additional renewable baseload power that will help reduce the risk of power supply shortages in the Luzon power grid.”

The focus of the next phases of power developments in the country will be on renewable energy (RE) – and on the diverse technologies within this sphere, only geothermal and hydro can provide baseload power in the system.

Of the two, however, it is geothermal that can be regarded as ‘constant’ when it comes to electricity generation; while its cousin-hydro has vulnerability to cyclical weather conditions – primarily during summer when water levels would run low.

On the PGPC geothermal developments, Saporsantos expounded that the targeted capacities’ boost will “play a pivotal role in the Department of Energy's target of having renewable energy sources account for at least 50% of the country’s total power capacity by 2040."

Beyond paramount contribution to the energy security quest, the PGPC executive similarly spotlighted the socio-economic benefits that these projects could yield, not just to their host communities but for the country in general.

"These projects from the exploration and development phase all the way up to commercial operation are expected to create over 2,000 jobs, with priority given to hiring qualified local residents in our host communities," he stressed.

The company added that “throughout its operations, PGPC has maintained a steadfast commitment to community engagement, focusing on educational advancement, environmental stewardship, and local livelihood enhancement initiatives.”

From its precursor-company Philippine Geothermal Inc. (PGI) which was previously held by American investors, PGPC had trailblazed geothermal energy developments in the country via its operation of steam fields which underpinned electricity generation at the Tiwi and Makiling-Banahaw power plants for more than half-a-century already.