Geothermal project with 100 MW capacity classified as project of nat’l significance

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) will soon declare a geothermal project with at least 100 megawatts (MW) in capacity as the first ‘Project of National Significance’ under executive order (EO) 30, its top official said.

One project is now tabled for signing to be listed under EO 30, which is a geothermal power project with a capacity of more than 100 MW, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said. 

The project is under a local company, he said, declining to give more details.

“I’m ready to declare one company as project of national significance,” he said. “The only thing is, I want to make sure all other agencies are aligned. And I want to just make sure all questions are answered.”

The energy chief said the geothermal facility answers the country’s need of developing indigenous power sources, as well as the need to have cleaner energy.

“One, we know that indigenous power development has its challenges. Plus, we also want clean source. We want one that will qualify as baseload…It qualifies to all those requirements, not just value of the investment,” Cusi said.

Signed by President Duterte in June last year, EO 30 provides that government agencies concerned with energy projects should presume other agencies were able to act upon and issue their respective permits within a 30-day period.

The order also creates the Energy Investment Coordinating Council – led by DOE, which will spearhead and coordinate national government efforts to harmonize, integrate and streamline regulatory processes, requirements and forms relevant to the development of energy investments in the country.

Other members of the council include representatives from various national government agencies and relevant energy institutions (e.g., Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Finance, Department of Justice, Department of Transportation, National Electrification Administration, National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, National Power Corp., National Transmission Corp., Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development and other relevant government agencies).

Previously, Cusi said the agency is preparing a list of power projects that will be under EO 30 as long as these developments have a high social impact.

He said the list includes the planned $2-billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, which is targeted to start construction within 2018.

The DOE has tasked its corporate arm Philippine National Oil Co. to spearhead the development of the country’s integrated LNG hub, consisting of five million metric tons per annum of storage, liquefaction, regassification and distribution facility, as well as a reserve initial power plant capacity of 200 MW.

PNOC is currently evaluating unsolicited proposals from seven firms, namely Korea Electric Power Corp., Lloyds Energy Group, China National Offshore Oil Co., First Gen Corp., Energy World Corp., PT. Jaya Samudra Karunia and PT PGN LNG Indonesia/PT Bosowa Corporindo with their local partner MOF Corp.

Two of the submitted proposals were already rejected, Cusi said earlier.