The power generation arm of the Lopez family has secured a supply agreement to provide geothermal energy to Wilmar Edible Oils Philippines Inc., a further expansion of its renewable energy portfolio in the country’s industrial sector.

First Gen Corp. announced in a statement that it will deliver power to Wilmar’s processing facility in Gingoog, Misamis Oriental. The electricity will be sourced from the Mindanao geothermal power plant, located at the foot of Mount Apo in Cotabato.

The facility is operated by First Gen subsidiary Energy Development Corp., the country’s largest vertically integrated geothermal producer.

Wilmar’s Gingoog plant is a critical infrastructure piece for the agribusiness giant, operating around the clock to handle copra crushing, processing, and the refining of edible oils.

David Lim, Wilmar chief financial officer, said the shift to renewable sources is a strategic move to insulate the company from volatile fuel prices while addressing its carbon footprint.

Lim noted that because energy consumption typically represents a significant portion of operational emissions, transitioning to renewable energy provides a measurable way to ensure long-term business continuity and cost stability.

The partnership underscores a growing trend among Philippine industrial players to seek “baseload” renewable energy—power that remains available 24 hours a day.

Carlo Vega, First Gen’s chief customer engagement officer, said geothermal power is uniquely positioned among renewable sources because it can meet the constant electricity demands of heavy industry without the intermittency issues associated with solar or wind.

He added that the company remains committed to helping Wilmar embed sustainability across its local operations.

The deal comes as First Gen aggressively pursues an expansion of its clean energy footprint in the southern Philippines. The company previously disclosed plans to increase its geothermal capacity by as much as 100 megawatts through new exploration projects.

Francis Giles Puno, president of First Gen, confirmed last September that drilling is underway in the Amacan area. This project is expected to generate between 70 megawatts and 100 megawatts, significantly broadening the company’s geothermal presence beyond its established Mount Apo site.

First Gen currently manages a renewable energy portfolio exceeding 1,700 megawatts, which includes geothermal, wind, solar, and hydroelectric assets. While the company maintains a heavy interest in natural gas, it has been recalibrating its capital structure.

It holds a 40 percent stake in a 2,017-megawatt gas-fired portfolio after divesting 60 percent to Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc., led by billionaire Enrique Razon Jr. First Gen has set an ambitious long-term target to grow its total renewable and low-carbon capacity to 13 gigawatts.