Bacolod City – The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is reopening its geothermal power plant in Brgy. Mailum, Bago City, Negros Occidental, with five megawatts of power to be generated from its wells.
Lacson disclosed that EDC will operate in the same area, using the same wells they dug before.
Recalling that when the geothermal power company initially targeted 40MW power, he said “it was not a good idea, because it caused other problems,” noting that their pipes and wells clogged up.
So, they’re looking at lesser output, so there’s not too much pressure on the wells that they dug, he added.
In 2013, EDC decided to dismantle the 49MW Northern Negros Geothermal Power Plant in Barangay Mailum, Bago City, after it failed to generate the targeted capacity. The equipment was transferred to another of its geothermal power plants in Valencia, Negros Oriental.
Some of its facilities and equipment were however retained for future use.
Regarding claims by environment groups that the wells of EDC have encroached into the protected zone of Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park, Lacson said that is “their impression.”
“That is not true. It’s just that EDC then expected too much. And they realized their mistake. That is why they just targeting up to 5MW,” Lacson said. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)