RP forms first national geothermal association

The Department of Energy, Philippine Geothermal Inc. and PNOC-Energy Development Corp. (EDC) have formed the country’s first national geothermal association.

Efforts to form the Philippine Geothermal Association (PGA) started last year when EDC, in cooperation with PGI and DOE, initiated the formulation of PGA’s by-laws.

"We are very enthusiastic about the idea and support the initiation of the organization by EDC geothermists," he said.

Apostol said it is about time for the country to have an organization on geothermal, the Philippines being the second largest geothermal producer in the world, next to the United States.

"EDC, being a major producer of geothermal energy for electric power, needs an independent organization to promote its interest in sustaining geothermal use in the Philippines," he said.

PGI, a subsidiary of Unocal, shared the commitment to a vision of a local association that will enhance technical exchange, partnership and policies that will allow the Philippines to emerge as the world’s leading geothermal producer.

An ad hoc committee is working out the affiliation of PGA to the International Geothermal Association (IGA).

PGA is a scientific, educational and cultural organization established to operate in the Philippines. It is a non-political, non-government, non-profit organization.

It is aimed at encouraging, facilitating and, when appropriate, promoting coordination of activities related to worldwide and national research, development and application of geothermal resources.

Membership to the PGA is divided into seven classes namely: individual, student, affiliate, corporate, institutional, sustaining and honorary.

At present, it has 117 members with 112 as individual members, four sustaining members and one student member. All individuals involved in the geothermal industry are encouraged to support the PGA be enlisting as founding members. – Donnabelle Gatdula