The Philippines to bid out 10 geothermal exploration areas in November

Alexander Richter 9 Nov 2009

Reported from the Philippines, “The Philippine’s Energy Department will bid out 10 geothermal exploration areas this month under the next contracting round.

The department set the deadline for the submission of proposals on geothermal areas on Nov. 23.

The areas offered are Cagua/Baua in Cagayan (69,748 hectares), Daklan in Benguet (23,639 hectares), Acupan-Itogon in Benguet (18,407.64 hectares), Natib in Bataan (11.928.72 hectares) and Montelago in Oriental Mindoro (4,032.97 hectares).

Other areas are Labo in Camarines Norte (9,324.30 hectares), Isarog in Camarines Sur (16,279.10 hectares), Sta. Lourdes-Tagburos in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (1,599.80 hectares), Mainit in Surigao del Norte (37,690.93 hectares) and Maibarara, which covers both Batangas and Laguna (1,599.80 hectares).

The department said it would evaluate proposals based on technical (30 percent), financial (30 percent) and work program (40 percent) submitted.

It said evaluation of the RE (renewable energy) proposal on technical and financial criteria would proceed after the completion of all legal requirements.

It said it is a proponent who got the highest point based on the specific criteria would be considered the best counter proposal and awarded a geothermal service contract.

The department said it expected the proponent to “drill one to two exploratory wells at the end of exploration period.”

The winning bidder will also be asked to come up with a counter proposal to drill additional exploration wells on previously explored areas.

The contracts are expected to be awarded between Jan. 29 and Feb. 12, 2010.

Mario Marasigan, director of the renewable energy bureau, earlier said investors were interested in geothermal development, especially with the passage of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008.”

Source: Manila Standard Today