ThermaPrime completes drilling program for PGPC

MANILA, Philippines — ThermaPrime Drilling Corp., a geothermal drilling company of the Lopez Group, has completed its drilling program for the SM Investments Corp.-owned Philippine Geothermal Production Co. Inc. (PGPC).

ThermaPrime said it has successfully drilled a total of 12 production wells and three multilateral injection wells, while also carrying out 10 work-over jobs over a period of four years under the program.

Over 100 megawatts (MW) of additional steam production for PGPC from its geothermal steam fields in Laguna, Batangas and Tiwi, Albay have been produced for the entire campaign.

ThermaPrime said one of the drilled wells in the Makiling-Banahaw area is by far the country’s deepest for large hole with a depth of 11,849 feet.

It also holds a speed record for geothermal drilling having been completed in under a month, the company said.

ThermaPrime is a drilling services contracting company specializing in geothermal wells and related services.

As a member of the First Holdings group of companies and a fully owned subsidiary of AAAA general contractor First Balfour Inc., ThermaPrime is in the forefront of the low carbon footprint and regenerative agenda of the group.

PGPC, on the other hand, is a pioneering developer of geothermal energy in Southeast Asia.

The company is looking to progress its other geothermal concessions and increase its renewable energy output to about 600 MW in line with the thrust of the government to pursue green and sustainable energy development.

It plans to invest about P3 billion annually for new projects in Kalinga, Daklan, and Cagayan in Northern Luzon, and in Mount Labo and Malinao in Southern Luzon.

PGPC advocates for indigenous geothermal energy as an important component in the country’s overall energy development plan being the only baseload renewable energy source that is available 24/7.

The SM Group, which is boosting its investments in renewable energy through SMIC, acquired PGPC for P26.6 billion last year.

PGPC operates the Tiwi geothermal steam field in the province of Albay and the Mak-Ban geothermal steam field in the provinces of Laguna and Batangas.

The Tiwi and Mak-Ban geothermal steam fields capitalize on the earth’s natural heat to produce steam that is captured by production wells.

The steam is delivered to third party power plants to generate electricity which then goes to power transmission lines for distribution to homes and offices.