Biliran Geothermal sets construction of Leyte power plant

MANILA, Philippines - Biliran Geothermal Inc. (BGI) has moved closer to starting construction of a 49-megawatt (MW) power plant in its geothermal field in Leyte, which would initially provide the province and Region 8 with five MW in capacity, after resolving acidity issues with the project.

The company’s geothermal scientists have recently completed a series of tests confirming the success of the fluid management system (FMS) which effectively treats the acidic nature of the fluids from the drilled wells, making it fit for the generation of geothermal power.

“We took every consideration and precaution to ensure the management of the available resources to arrive at favorable test results so we could move on to the next phase of the project, which is the construction of the geothermal power plant,” BGI project director Danilo Catigtig said.

The BGI development scheme is modular with at least five MW per wellhead unit. The geothermal field is one of the largest greenfield geothermal projects in the Philippines with a potential of 350 MW.

“We are confident we will deliver the first five MW out of the 49 MW project development as detailed in the environmental compliance certificate (ECC),” Catigtig said.

Initial developments in Biliran started in the 1980s, but the project was not completed due to the acidity of the geothermal brine.

“When we completed the drilling, majority of the wells were acidic. We had to address the situation to ensure the success of the project. After a number of studies, we identified the solution we now call as the FMS,” said Nilo Apuada, a BGI geophysicist.

With this project, BGI will provide the stability and reliability of electricity supply not just in the island province of Biliran, but also for the entire Region 8.

“The successful implementation of this method is an achievement for the country because it addresses one of the most vital concerns in geothermal power generation, which is the high investment costs incurred in drilling,” Emerging Power Inc. (EPI) president and CEO Guido Delgado said.

In 2015, EPI acquired 60 percent of BGI and proceeded with the development of the site. The power developer, incorporated in the Philippines, is majority owned by Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC), one of the country’s biggest mining firms.