EDC will have its hands full in 2023

Lopez-led Energy Development Corp. (EDC) is targeting to start new power projects and complete a P7-billion power plant next year.

EDC assistant vice president and corporate relations and communications head Allan Barcena said the company was expecting to complete the 29-megawatt (MW) Palayan Bayan binary power plant by the “second week of the second quarter next year.”

Through subsidiary BacMan Geothermal Inc., EDC began work on the Palayan binary power plant in June last year. The project would expand the existing 130-MW Bacon-Manito (BacMan) geothermal facility in Bicol.

The P7-billion plant would use waste heat from the 110-MW Bacman-1 geothermal power plant to generate additional energy without the need for additional drilling.

“Heat from brine, which is usually produced from the wet steam operations, will be used to generate electricity by the new power plant before reinjecting back to the reservoir,” EDC had said.

Barcena said EDC was planning to start constructing the 20-MW Tanawon geothermal power facility, also located in Bicol, by next year. Completion is expected in three years’ time.

EDC is yet to start the ball rolling for the Tanawon geothermal project, which forms part of the expansion of the BacMan geothermal power facility.

“We’re in the process of getting the permits for its construction,” Barcena said.

He also said the Mahanagdong Geothermal Power Plant situated in Leyte would also commence construction by “early next year” and completion was slated in about three years.