Energy firm offers 20MW to Ceneco for 2014

Wednesday, October 26, 2011


THE Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is offering its additional power of 20 megawatts (MW) from the expansion of the Palinpinon Geothermal Power Plant in 2014 to Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco).


"We don't have any contract yet for the 20-MW additional power from Palinpinon, Negros Oriental. If Ceneco says that they will buy, I guess EDC will offer this additional power," Dwight Maxino, EDC's vice president for Northern Negros Geothermal Production Field (NNGPF), said Tuesday.


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EDC offers its geothermal power at P4.70 per kilowatt-hour, Maxino said.


The additional power of EDC is seen to at least cover the power shortage come year 2014.


Maxino also assured that the additional power goes to the Negros grid.


Right now, he said, the wells are all ready in Negros Oriental.


"We have already announced to transfer the plant from NNGPF in Palinpinon and its power goes to the Negros grid. The wells are already there and we only need a power plant," he pointed out.


The existing Palinpinon Geothermal Power Plant is now operated by Green Core, while the additional 20-megawatt plant will be operated by EDC, Maxino said.


Meanwhile, Maxino said that NNGPF is discharging two wells from Sitio Pataan.


The testing is part of our optimization program that will be completed in December and, if the result is positive, they will stop discharging in December. If not, they will continue for another three months, he explained.


"We have eight wells but only two will be discharged or tested. It means that the wells will be allowed to flow steam and water, which our technical group will measure and observe. The testing will take three months and will determine if we can sustain the production of 10 MW. We will optimize on the 10-MW capacity. In fact, right now we are preparing the designs and other pertinent documents for a 10-MW power plant," he said.


He said EDC has conducted initial assessment from the previous discharges which confirmed that they can sustain to generate five to ten megawatts," Maxino said, adding that "definitely we cannot attain the 40-MW target output that we had."


He also confirmed that, as of this time, EDC has no plans to drill more wells at the buffer zone of Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park.


"We continue to abide with all the conditions set by the Provincial Government which were stated in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that we have signed. We will sustain that," he clarified.


Maxino also said that, in terms of manpower, they already had a manpower reduction program in previous years and the early retirement program and that they will sustain their present manpower because they are going to maintain the plant for the 10-megawatt capacity.


EDC shutdown NNGPF in November last year, resumed operations and then shutdown again from April to July this year. The discharging started in August this year, Maxino said.


Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on October 26, 2011.