EDC vows to maintain safety record at geothermal sites

MANILA, Philippines - The Lopez-controlled Energy Development Corp. (EDC) has committed to maintain its impressive safety records at its geothermal project sites.

EDC president and COO Richard Tantoco said the Unified Leyte geothermal power plants, owned and operated by the country’s largest renewable energy firm, registered over one million safe man-hours without lost time accident (LTA) as of Aug. 25, 2009.

The Unified Leyte plants include the 125-megawatt Upper Mahiao plant turned over to EDC by California Energy in June 2006; the 232-MW Malitbog and 180-MW Mahanagdong plants turned over to EDC also by California Energy in July 2007; and the 51-MW optimization plants turned over by Ormat in September 2007.

“Considering that we only started operating the plants in 2006 and 2007, this is indeed another noteworthy achievement for EDC.  Our adherence to the highest safety standards, the dedication of our safety team in ensuring compliance, and making safety a way of life for all employees led to the achievement of this milestone,” Tantoco said.

EDC has set impressive safety records in its geothermal project sites. Last year, EDC’s Bacman Geothermal Production Field (BGPF) in Sorosogon, Northern Negros Geothermal Production Field (NNGPF) in Negros Occidental and Upper Mahiao power plant received the safety award from the Safety and Health Association of the Philippine Energy Sector (SHAPES). BGPF logged 2.253 million man-hours or four years and one month without LTA since September 2004.

NNGPF’s actual safety record, meanwhile, hit 2.219 million man-hours or five years and four months without LTA since June 2003.

The Upper Mahiao power plant, on the other hand, attained 300,409 man-hours or two years and six months without LTA since its turnover to EDC in June 2006.

Aside from BGPF and NNGPF, EDC operates the Southern Negros Geothermal Production Field (SNGPF) in Negros Oriental, Mindanao Geothermal Production Field (MGPF) in North Cotabato and Leyte Geothermal Production Field (LGPF) in Leyte.

The LGPF is EDC’s biggest steam field, accounting for close to 60 percent of the company’s total installed capacity.

It supplies the steam used by the Unified Leyte plants and the 112.5-MW Napocor-owned Tongonan I geothermal plant for power generation.