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Biliran geothermal plant could start operation in September 2018

Biliran geothermal plant could start operation in September 2018 Geysir drilling rig of Iceland Drilling on Biliran Island, Philippines (source: Biliran Island Blog)
Alexander Richter 11 May 2017

A 10 MW geothermal power plant on Biliran Island in the Philippines could start operation as soon as September 2018, reported by the developer Biliran Geothermal Inc.

Reported from the Philippines, the Biliran geothermal project  by Biliran Geothermal Incorporated (BGI) could start operation as soon as September 2018, as said by an employee of the company in a radio interview.

“BGI vows to deliver a stable and reliable power supply,” said Mark Julius Mecaral Oraa, BGI compliance and permitting officer, in his guesting at “Kapihan at Pulong-Pulong ng Bayan” hosted by the Philippine Information Agency-Biliran provincial information center.

Oraa revealed that BN6 production well is already tested positive of producing five megawatt (MW)of geothermal power source. He further said that BN8, another existing geothermal well developed and subject for further tests of BGI, is also expected to produce another five megawatts.

He added that BGI is currently negotiating with an electric power contractor provider for the construction of the first modular binary geothermal power plant in Biliran province which is expected to be commissioned in September, 2018.

The BGI marketing team is also in the process of marketing power sales agreement with electric power distribution utilities like BILECO and other electric power distribution utilities in Region 8, Oraa further said.

Part of the Phase 1 development plan of BGI is the production of 10 MW from BN6 and BN8 where a 13.2 KV line is to be installed and to be connected to BILECO from the power plant to be constructed in Caibiran, Oraa revealed.

He further said Phase 2 of BGI’s development plan is the installation of 69KV line up to the NGCP sub-station in Biliran town for another 39 MW produced utilizing the shallow neutral part of the Biliran reservoir.

“The current development of the geothermal power project will surely boost the economy of the province as more investors will establish their businesses due to a stable and reliable power supply that will be delivered by BGI,” he said.

He likewise informed that the problem on power interruptions experienced by BILECO member-consumers will be addressed with the establishment of geothermal power plant in Biliran province

Source: Philippines Information Agency