ERC okays Maibarara plant

MANILA, Philippines - The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has issued its certificate of compliance (COC) to Maibarara Geothermal Inc.’s 20-megawatt power facility in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

Maibarara is a joint venture 65 percent owned by PetroGreen Energy Corp., a subsidiary of PetroEnergy Resources (PERC), with partners TransAsia Oil and Energy Development Corp. and PNOC Renewables Corp. (PNOC-RC).

With the COC approval, the Maibarara facility is expected to go on-line for commercial operation this quarter as planned by the proponents.

The 20-MW Maibarara geothermal project consists of three components – the steamfield, power plant and transmission facility.

The joint venture had conducted commissioning tests of the steamfield in the second quarter of 2013 and were completed in the third quarter.

The proponents also implemented a series of mechanical and electrical tests of the power plant’s main equipment, supplied by Fuji Electric.

Construction of the Maibarara facility started in April 2012 after the proponents secured a P2.4-billion loan from Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) and Bank of the Philippines (BPI) in September 2011.

Maibarara is touted as the first geothermal power project under the current Aquino administration and the first renewable energy project under the 2008 Renewable Energy Act declared commercial by the Department of Energy.

Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB) director Mario Marasigan has said the operation of the project’s first 20 MW unit is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions between 71,000 and 76,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.