PNOC-EDC eyes 2 new geothermal wells in Leyte

State-owned PNOC-Energy Development Corp. (EDC) has lined up two geothermal wells for drilling in its new project sites on Leyte Island early next year.

"We want to begin 2003 on a proactive note and this early, we are setting our sights on expanding the country’s energy capacity through an aggressive drilling program," EDC chairman and president Sergio Apostol said.

EDC considers Leyte as one of the country’s richest geothermal sources. At present, bulk of the company’s power generation comes from the Leyte geothermal production field (LGPF) which dispatched 5,069 gigawatts (gWH) in2001.

According to Apostol, an exploratory well, (CL-ID) is scheduled to be spudded-in by the first week of January inside its Central Leyte geothermal project (CLGP) located at Mt. Lobi in the municipality of Burauen.

Another exploratory well (SL-2D), he said, will be drilled later in the month on Mt. Cabalian within the Southern Leyte geothermal prospect.

The EDC chief said civil works have been completed recently at the said site to pave the way for the impending drilling activities.

He noted that CL-1D will be the first exploratory well to be drilled in the Central Leyte project.

"Being exploratory, this well will determine if the geothermal resource in the area is of commercial quality. Drilling of additional exploration wells will be made if this well yields a positive indication," he said.

The geothermal development firm expects to harness about 500 megawatts (MW) of geothermal power from CLGP and 60 MW from the Southern Leyte project, which are both targeted for commissioning within five to six years.

EDC currently produces close to 700 MW of geothermal steam from the Tongonan steamfields in northwest Leyte.

"We hope to replicate the success that we had in Tongonan in these new geothermal projects," Apostol said.

Aside from the Leyte geothermal projects, EDC is also eyeing to do surface exploration work on other prospects in Dauin, Negros; Oriental Mindoro, and North Cotabato for possible expansion of existing geothermal facilities.