Sorsogon city: The Energy Development Corp. (EDC) activated a new PHP7 billion facility in Sorsogon City on Friday as part of its efforts to harness the country’s rich indigenous geothermal resources. Jerome Cainglet, EDC president and chief operating officer, stated that the inauguration of the 22-megawatt (MW) Tanawon Geothermal Power Plant “is a win for the country’s energy security and climate resilience journey.”

According to Philippines News Agency, the project, completed after 27 months, is a product of a “committed collaboration” between EDC and its mother unit, First Gen Corp., and their key contractors First Balfour and Toshiba, as well as strong government support. The Department of Energy expressed gratitude to First Gen-EDC for backing the government’s push for energy security and climate resilience.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin emphasized the alignment of the project with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s focus on climate action and energy security. She stated that the Tanawon project exemplifies the commitment to a clean source and a secure, economically developed, climate-resilient country. The project’s completion supports the Philippine Energy Plan’s goal to increase the share of renewable energy to 50 percent by 2040.

The Tanawon Geothermal Power Plant is projected to have a net annual generation of 159,000 MW hours, significantly contributing to the country’s baseload renewable energy capacity and helping to avoid approximately 38,312 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. This facility is the second among First Gen-EDC’s seven growth projects to be commissioned, following the 29MW Palayan Binary Geothermal Power Plant inaugurated on July 5, 2024. EDC aims to commission four of its growth projects this year.