PNOC geothermal unit sets P360-M for 4 more wells

ORMOC, Leyte – The PNOC-Energy Development Corp. (EDC) expects to spend about P360 million to drill at least four more wells in the Leyte province in the remaining months of this year.

EDC resident manager for the Leyte Geothermal Production Field (LGDF) Wildredo Algopera, told a press briefing here, they are scheduled to drill one well in Kabalian, Southern Leyte in November this year.

Algopera said another well is expected to be drilled in Mt. Lobi, near EDC’s Tongonan steamfield facility in Ormoc, Leyte. He added they also plant to dig up two more production wells in its Tongonan drilling areas.

The drilling cost for each well would amount to about P90 million, but Algopera said the financing requirement for each well would depend on the scope of the drilling process.

Although the drilling of the four wells is expected to star within the year, Algopera said, it would take about 45 to 60 days to finish. "We would probably finish the drilling by early next year."

The EDC official said from the drilling of the wells to the actual construction of a 100-MW power plant will take at least three years to complete.

If proven commercially viable, the electricity to be generated by the planned Kabalian power plant could be supplied to the Mindanao area, a possible power shortage looms in the next two years.

The first geothermal power plant in the Philippines was located in Tongonan, Leyte. In July 1977, EDC commissioned the first geothermal generator in the province after pioneering studies were conducted under the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvocs), in cooperation with the New Zealand government. The three-MW pilot plant served nearby Ormoc City and neighboring towns in Leyte.

After this, several other geothermal facilities were put up in the area. These are: 112.5-MW Tongonan-1; 232.5-MW Malitbog plant; 132-MW Upper Mahiao; Mahanagdong A and B.

EDC steam fields have reached a geothermal capacity of 1,155 MW, 23 percent of the estimated gross potential reserves in the country of 5,000 MW.

The Philippines is the world’s second largest geothermal power producer, next only to the United States.