EDC eyes Mt. Mandalagan for next geothermal project

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The Energy Development Corporation is now looking into Mt. Mandalagan as its next site for a geothermal project.

In a pre-feasibility geo-scientific study, submitted to the Vice Governor’s Office on Wednesday, project manager Ian Borja said the Department of Energy has identified the Mandalagan geothermal project as one of the areas that has potential for power generation via renewable energy.

The proposed study area has 77,733 hectares covering the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, Victorias, Cadiz and Sagay, and towns of Manapla, Don Salvador Benedicto, Calatrava, EB Magalona and Murcia,

Borja said study, which will cost P500,000, consists of geological, geochemical and geophysical surveys. This is necessary to establish the understanding of the presence of a geothermal system in the area that may possibly be utilized for power generation, he said.

The surveys will take three to six months and will be undertaken by a geologist, geochemist, a technician and some local aides, he said.

Borja said that, upon acquisition of all the required permits, geo-scientific study activities for Mandalagan geothermal prospect area will require about six months of field activities, starting in the last quarter of 2015.

Rock and sediment samples will be collected along exposed outcrops including altered grounds, but only rock chip sampling will be done, and that trenching and drilling will not be undertaken, he said.

Borja added that a number of qualified residents in the community will directly benefit from the proposed surface activities through short term employment.

Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, for his part, said EDC only forwarded the project description to his office to inform the latter of its intentions. “We will take action if they make a request. We don’t want to preempt them. They have not requested for any legislative action,” he said.

Earlier, EDC was unsuccessful to generate its target of 49 megawatt power in its Northern Negros Geothermal Project at Barangay Mailum in Bago City. It later transferred the facilities to its plant in Palinpinon in Negros Oriental.