Philippines: BacMan plant to go operational with 130 MW in June
Bacon-Manito geothermal field, Philippines (source: EDC)
Alexander Richter
12 May 2011
Energy Development Corp. (EDC) says its 130 MW Bacon-Manito (BacMan) geothermal power plants will start operation in June, according to EDC President and COO Richard Tatoco.
Reported today from the Philippines, “The Bacon-Manito (BacMan) geothermal power plants are set to start operations next month, the Energy Development Corp. (EDC), a company under the Lopez Group, said Thursday.
EDC president and chief operating officer Richard Tantoco said the plant is seen to produce 130 megawatts (MW).
“We have also programmed the commissioning of the BacMan power plants by June this year. These investments will certainly sustain the gains we achieved last year and continue yielding more value for our shareholders,” Tantoco added.
The EDC official said they were pushing through with plans to drill for geothermal reserves within the facility to increase power generating capacity. However, he could not provide estimates as to how much energy would be added to the existing capacity.
“I think by [the second quarter] we can have a proper view on the size, the capacity,” he added.
BacMan Geothermal Inc. acquired the BacMan power facilities late last year from the Power Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) for P1.28 billion.
The BacMan Geothermal package includes two steam plants with a combined capacity of 150 MW located in Bacon, Sorsogon and in Manito, Albay in the Bicol Region.
The power plants, which needed rehabilitation, had not been running steadily since 2009. Late last year, EDC said it would speed up the rehabilitation of BacMan Geothermal.
“BacMan’s the one we’re really rushing. We’re trying to make sure it comes online. Our target is about between eighteen and twenty-four months… [from September 2010],” EDC chairman Federico Lopez had said.”
Source: GMA News
