• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Northern Negros Geothermal Power Plant (NNGP) in Barangay Mailum, Bago City continues to be developed by the First Gen Renewables, this time with a smaller power facility designed to better match the geothermal field’s capacity.
The project, which was inaugurated in 2007, ceased operations in 2009 after studies showed that the original power plant was too large for the geothermal resource available in the area.
Erwin Magallanes, corporate relations head for Negros of First Gen Renewables Corp., said on Friday, Aug. 14 the geothermal field could not sustain the plant’s operations at the time.
“The resource cannot sustain the operations of the power plant,” Magallanes said.
Following the shutdown, the facility was transferred to Palimpinon in Negros Oriental, where it is now operating at 20 megawatts (MW).
Magallanes said the transferred facility has since generated nearly 49 MW, adding almost 30 MW of capacity to the power grid.
Meanwhile, the remaining geothermal resource in Northern Negros continued to undergo studies and evaluation.
“We found that it is about the right sizing of the power plant and the field,” Magallanes said.
Unlike the conventional geothermal plant previously operated in the area, he said the new facility will use binary technology, which uses a secondary fluid to convert geothermal heat into electricity.
Construction is already underway although the company has yet to announce a definite date for commercial operations.
Magallanes said completion could possibly take place next year, provided there are no major problems during construction.
The company is expecting up to 5 MW renewable power from the NNGP.
Magallanes emphasized that the renewed development is intended to make better use of the geothermal resource still available in northern Negros.
The development of the geothermal project has previously raised environmental concerns, particularly over road construction and tree cutting in the area.
Magallanes said the company has complied with government requirements for replacement planting and has planted more trees than required.
Under the government requirements, every tree cut must be replaced with 100 trees.
Magallanes said reforestation activities have been carried out in Murcia and neighboring areas, including Don Salvador Benedicto, which forms part of the company’s broader environmental commitments in Negros.
Meanwhile, now in its 17th year, First Gen Renewables’ BINHI program continues to expand its reforestation and forest conservation initiatives in Negros.
The program has reforested 1,565 hectares of forestland, planted more than 1.1 million trees, and partnered with eight farmer associations.
It has also helped protect 24,558 hectares of forestlands and buffer zones within the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park through partnerships with the Kanlaon Green Brigade, local government units, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The program has also helped mainstream 145 Philippine native tree species through the Central-VMR nursery management initiative and established two arboreta at Rafael Salas Park and Central Philippines University. | GPB
