PGPC to start exploration drilling at Mt. Malinao geothermal prospect, Philippines
Mount Malinao, Albay, Philippines (source: Chris Newhall (U.S. Geological Survey), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Carlo Cariaga
8 Apr 2025
PGPC has announced the imminent start of exploration drilling at the Mt. Malinao geothermal site in Albay, Philippines, eyeing a 49-MW development.
The Philippine Geothermal Production Co. Inc (PGPC) has announced that the company has deployed their Pioneer 1 drilling rig to start exploratory drilling operations at the Mt. Malinao geothermal concession in Albay, Philippines. The company is eyeing a 49-MW geothermal power development at the site.
PGPC, a unit under the conglomerate SM Investments Corp. (SMIC), had previously announced plans of developing at least 5 new additional geothermal projects in the Philippines, including the Mt. Malinao prospect. The plan is to double the company’s installed capacity from 300 MW to 600 MW over the next five years.
The other geothermal prospects being evaluated by PGPC – namely, Kalinga, Daklan, Cagua-Baua, and Mt. Labo, are also within the island of Luzon. With the advanced exploration stage of Mt. Malinao, PGPC continues to support the Philippine Department of Energy’s target of attaining at least 50% of the country’s total capacity coming from renewable energy sources by 2040.
PGPC is notable for being the pioneer for geothermal power development in Southeast Asia. The Mak-Ban geothermal power facility, developed by predecessor Philippine Geothermal Inc . (PGI) started commercial operations back in 1979.
Source: Business World and Philippine Star
