Bacon-Manito to run at full capacity in 2015, says EDC

The Bacon-Manito (BacMan) geothermal facility in Bicol will run at full output by next summer, when the anticipated power crisis hits Luzon, Energy Development Corp. (EDC) executive vice president Ernesto B. Pantangco said in a text message.

EDC earlier said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange that as of yesterday, all units at BacMan were operational and the facility was producing a gross output of approximately 130 megawatts.

Unit 1, however, will be shut down in December to give way to the installation of a new steam turbine rotor.

But the company said it planned to put it back into service by March 20, 2015, to help prevent a power shortage in Luzon.

On Nov. 28, 2013, BacMan Geothermal Inc. (BGI), a subsidiary of EDC, entered into arbitration administered by the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce in relation to its dispute with TurboCare, Inc. (now known as EthosEnergy TC Inc.) and Siemens Inc.

The contractor was engaged by BGI in 2010 to rehabilitate BacMan Units 1 to 3. Disputes arose in relation to the carrying out of those works, which were the subject of the arbitration.

“BGI and EDC are pleased to announce that, as of today’s date, all claims under the arbitration have now been settled with the Contractor on terms satisfactory to BGI and EDC, and that the Arbitration will be discontinued as a result,” EDC said.

EDC said it looked forward to pursuing new opportunities with the Siemens group, and strengthening the commercial relationship between the two companies.

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