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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider EDC mulls Upper Mahiao geothermal plant revamp

EDC mulls Upper Mahiao geothermal plant revamp

Published Oct 21, 2025 10:04 am
Lopez-led Energy Development Corp. (EDC) is set to study potential repurposing of its 129-megawatt (MW) Upper Mahiao geothermal power plant in Kananga, Leyte.
EDC Vice President Ryan Velasco said that the geothermal plant, having completed its economic run, may soon take on a new role under a new development.
“We will be conducting site feasibility studies and look at various options, including the potential repurposing or redevelopment of the area,” Velasco said in a Viber message.
Last week, the company submitted to the Department of Energy (DOE) its decommissioning plans, which will be rolled out from 2026 to 2029. According to the EDC executive, two of the four units will begin retirement next year.
The firm cited the plant’s end of economic life and unviable power generation as reasons for its phaseout.
Despite retiring the facility commissioned in 1996, EDC continues to expand its renewable energy (RE) portfolio. In August, the firm announced plans to add 90 MW of geothermal capacity over the next five to six years, starting with projects in Bac-Man, Sorsogon City, and Albay.
EDC opened the 22-MW Tanawon geothermal plant this year and is set to energize the 28-MW Mahanagdong binary plant and three 20 megawatt-hours (MWh) battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Leyte and Negros Oriental later this year.
The company has earlier shared investment plans that could range from ₱13 billion to ₱27 billion for its geothermal scale-up. Aside from its sites in Visayas, EDC is also eyeing a new facility in Amacan in Mindanao.
As of August, the RE firm has 1,189.34 MW of geothermal capacity, which makes up 56 percent of the country’s overall installed capacity for geothermal energy.
EDC is a subsidiary of Lopez-led First Gen Corp., which explores, develops, and operates geothermal generation. So far, it has about 13 integrated geothermal facilities across Leyte, Bicol, Negros, and some parts of Mindanao.
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