Geothermal plant EIS hearing set for today

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will conduct a public hearing today at 10 a.m. at the Magsaysay Hall, Local Government Academy at UP Los Baños, Laguna, in connection with the ongoing review of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) update for the Mak-Ban Geothermal Power Project (MBGPP) of the National Power Corp. (Napocor) and Philippine Geothermal Inc. (PGI).

The hearing was set after satisfying the procedural requirements of DENR administrative Order No. 96-37 and the substantive review of the MBGPP EIS, which included broad technical and public consultations with project stakeholders. Public notices on the hearing were earlier published in newspapers of national and local circulation.

The MBGPP EIS update involves the: a) rehabilitation of the power plants to restore generating capacity; b) upgrading of the steamfield gathering system to improve steam purity, reduce scaling problems and steam loss; and c) construction of a secure landfill for the safe disposal of asbestos containing waste material (ACWM).

"We hope for a favorable response and endorsement of the rehabilitation project from our host communities and stakeholders," Virgilio Navarro, Napocor plant manager said. Having shown openness and transparency throughout the process, the same sentiment was echoed by Antonio Yee, PGI asset manager.

Mak-Ban is host to the country’s second geothermal power plant which commenced commercial operations in 1979 and has since been a critical component of Napocor’s Luzon power grid. The steam fields are being operated by PGI under a service contract with Napocor that was signed in 1971.

While the Mak-Ban power plants have an installed capacity of 426 megawatts (MW), the facilities have been operating at a plant capacity factor of 70 percent. As such, power generation has declined over time due to equipment deterioration and aging. With the rehabilitation project, the plants are expected to operate at a higher efficiency and increased geothermal steam usage.