Gov’t auctions 21 geothermal, hydro projects

The government is bidding out geothermal and hydroelectric power development projects after trimming the number of sites based on resource base, accessibility and readiness of transmission infrastructure.

Department of Energy director Mario Marasigan said they chose the final 21 based on how well-studied the areas were, whether they were remote or accessi ble, and whether there was infrastructure to transmit energy. Originally, the DOE was considering to auction 24 sites.

In an invitation to bidders, the DOE offered four geothermal sites and 17 hydropower sites to investors.

The submission deadline is on May 4, 2015, and the target for awarding the contracts is on Sept. 4, 2015.

The geothermal power projects slated for bidding are on Balut Island in Davao Occidental province, Amacan in Compostela Valley, Cabalian in Southern Leyte and Acupan in Benguet.

The 17 hydropower resources projects so far slated for auction are scattered throughout the country.

The “open and competitive selection process” or OCSP launched for the hydro and geothermal sites was supposed to be conducted last Dec. 15 and proponents were supposed to have submitted their respective bids by Feb. 15 this year. However, difficulties in booking suitable sites due to the busy holidays prompted the DOE to move the launch date.

Preliminary studies have been conducted in the areas on offer and the bidding is meant to accelerate renewable energy development in the country, which seeks to curb dependence on volatile and often pollutive energy sources such as coal and petroleum.