DOE eyes new geothermal areas for development

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) is looking for more low enthalpy geothermal areas that can be developed and offered to the private sector in the next round of open and competitive selection process (OCSP).

“We’re conducting resource assessment and we’re going to offer that to the private sector through the OCSP if we can prove that it can be developed,” Mario Marasigan, director of the DOE’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau, said on the sidelines of the National Geothermal Association of the Philippines (NGAP) forum in Pasig City.

Low enthalpy geothermal resources are areas with a relatively low temperature. Compared to conventional geothermal areas with temperatures of over 250 degrees centigrade, low enthalpy resources range between 60 to 180 degrees centigrade.

In the same event, DOE OIC-Secretary Zenaida Monsada said these resources can still be developed to generate power for the remote areas.

“These are promising sources of energy on the macro level,” she said.

So far, the DOE has discovered two low enthalpy geothermal prospects – Balut Island and Tingloy Island in Batangas.

Marasigan said there were no bidders for the Balut Island prospect in the last OCSP due to limited market in the area.

“But it’s still being considered for further exploration. If proven that it has a bigger resources, it will have justification of costs,” he said.

The DOE is also assessing existing service contracts (SCs) that are up for termination due to inactivity, Marasigan added.

These new areas and other cancelled SCs will be offered in the next OCSP.