12-MW Maibarara geothermal starts exporting power to Luzon grid

MANILA — The 12-megawatt Maibarara geothermal power plant (M2) has successfully been connected to the Luzon grid, its first export of power to the grid.

Listed PetroEnergy Resources Corporation (PERC) said the facility located in Sto. Tomas, Batangas is the second geothermal unit of Maibarara Geothermal, Inc. (MGI), a joint venture of its renewable energy holding unit PetroGreen Energy Corporation (PGEC), PHINMA Energy Corporation and PNOC Renewables Corporation.

MGI Power Plant Manager Paul Elmer Morala said the Maibarara-2 unit is currently undergoing a series of capability and reliability tests following its connection to the grid on March 9.

“During these tests, the ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission) will conduct a technical inspection as part of the Commission’s requirements for the issuance of a certificate of compliance (COC). Commercial operations of M2 will follow with the COC award,” he told the local stock exchange.

PGEC President Milagros Reyes said Maibarara-2 is the fourth power generating plant completed and put online in four years by the company.

“It marks the second wave of our judicious investment and operation in the renewable energy sector following the first wave with the 20 MW Maibarara-1 unit in February 2014, the 36-MW Nabas-1 wind farm in June 2015, and the 50 MW Tarlac-1 solar facility in February 2016,” she said.

For his part, MGI President F. G. Delfin, Jr. said Maibarara-2 is the first geothermal facility to be put up under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, and the only geothermal power plant installed in the country since 2014.

“This capacity expansion will also provide additional royalties and taxes to the national and host local governments,” he said. (PNA)