Philippine Geothermal Production Company Inc. said Monday its drilling rig Pioneer 1 commenced exploration operations at Mt. Malinao in Albay province.
PGPC is developing a geothermal steam field at Mt. Malinao that can be the source of up to 49 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy.
“Mt. Malinao is one of several new concession areas being developed by PGPC in various locations in Luzon. These new concession sites have the potential to provide up to 300 MW of renewable energy to the island of Luzon in the next few years,” the company said.
PGPC, owned by SM Investments Corp., is Southeast Asia’s first commercial geothermal power resource provider.
SMIC announced in 2022 that PGPC would develop five geothermal areas that could add 250 MW to 400 MW of geothermal capacity.
“There is room for geothermal to grow with the need for more RE in the future,” SMIC said.
PGPC’s five new geothermal areas are Kalinga (26,139 hectares) in Pasil, Lubuagan and Tinglayan, Kalinga; Daklan (3,969 ha.) in Bokod, Benguet; Baua-Sikaw (36,450 ha.) in Gonzaga and Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Cagua-Baua (33,904 ha.) in Gonzaga and Lal-lo, Cagayan; Mt. Labo (20,169 ha.) in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur, San Vicente and San Lorenzo Ruiz, Camarines Norte and Tagkawayan, Quezon; and Mt. Malinao (17,658 ha.) in Malinao, Tiwi, Tabaco City, Polangui and Malilipot, Albay and Buhi, Camarines Sur.
SMIC said PGPC’s ongoing operations, growth targets and efforts would support the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) and other Department of Energy initiatives.
PGPC operates the Tiwi and Mak-Ban steam fields in Albay and Laguna provinces, supplying steam to Aboitiz Power Corp.’s geothermal power plants.