EDC to build 1.3 B 23 MW Manito power plant in Albay

By Rhaydz B. Barcia

The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is set to build a new P1.3 billion Palayan Binary Geothermal Power Plant (PBGP)as part of its expansion program of the existing BacMan Geothermal plant in Manito, Albay.

EDC has awarded on Nov. 10, 2020 the contract for the engineering and construction of the PBGP to the First Balfour, a construction firm.

Joram San Luis, Balfour’s Business Development manager, said the project is expected to boost the region’s local economy as 70 percent of its target total manpower requirement will be sourced from the provinces of Albay and Sorsogon.

The P1.3-billion project will soon be followed by two more related work packages, namely: the Fluid Collection Reinjection System, which will transport the steam from the existing EDC facility to this binary plant; and the Connection Assets Works Package, which will connect the plant to the electricity grid, San Luis added.

“It was in 2018 when we first started discussing this prospect with EDC and original equipment manufacturers (OEM). But with the persistence of the tender team and the full support of our management, we were able to win this project despite limitations caused by community quarantine protocols,” San Luis said.

Upon project completion in 2022, the plant will boost the overall power generation capacity of the existing Bacman Geothermal Power Plant( BGPP), which currently generates 120 MW of electricity.

The 120 MW installed capacity of BGPP accounts for over 62 percent of the country’s total geothermal capacity, putting the Philippines on the map as the world’s third largest geothermal power producer.

EDC generates over 40 percent of the Philippines’ renewable energy output and serves about 10 percent of the country’s overall electricity demand with its installed capacity of over 1,500MW.

The BGPP is one of the geothermal power stations operated by Energy Development Corporation in the provinces of Albay and Sorsogon.

Bicol region is a producer and home of clean and renewable power sources. It hosts the Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant and BGPP, which supply electricity to the Luzon Grid.