ERC cites Yuchengco’s MGI for outstanding operational performance

MANILA, Philippines — Maibarara Geothermal Inc. (MGI), a member of the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC), was recognized by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for its “exemplary operational performance and steadfast commitment to power system reliability” during the regulator’s 25th Founding Anniversary celebration held on June 26.

The awarding ceremony, led by ERC Chairman Saturnino Juan Jr. and Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, feted selected power industry participants including distribution utilities, electric cooperatives, and generation companies for outstanding operations in 2025. 

In selecting MGI for the Geothermal Generation category, ERC highlighted its “significant contribution to the stability, adequacy, and resilience of the Philippine power system…by maintaining its facilities within the allowable unplanned outage limits” in 2025.

“On behalf of our YGC principals, our partners ACEN Corp. and PNOC-RC, and the MGI team, we express our deep appreciation to ERC led by Chair Saturnino Juan Jr. and DOE Secretary Sharon Garin for this recognition. As the youngest of only four commercially operating geothermal companies in the country, we are simultaneously honored and motivated by this award,” declared MGI President F.G. Delfin Jr. 

MGI operates the 32 MW Maibarara geothermal facility in Sto Tomas, Batangas which consists of a 20MW unit-1 (M1) and a 12 MW unit-2 (M2).

M1 was commissioned in late 2013 and started commercial operation in February 2014 as the first renewable energy (RE) project declared commercial under the 2008 RE Law framework by the Department of Energy (DOE) in 2011. M2 went on-line to the Luzon grid in April, 2018. 

Both units utilize Fuji Electric single-flash condensing turbines.

“At this time when several baseload plants in the Visayas are on extended outages resulting in power and economic disruptions, this award underscores the critical need to add more modern, clean, and reliable baseload power facilities in the country. MGI is responding to this imperative with our plan to explore and develop new geothermal resources in our Maibarara service contract block,” Delfin added.

“MGI’s latest recognition builds on our track record of operational excellence. In 2025, the company was awarded by the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC) as the Most Compliant Geothermal Company in 2024 for our exemplary performance in three compliance metrics—offered capacity, dispatch conformance, and adherence to standards, reflected in the facility’s high plant capacity and availability factors. These PEMC and ERC awards testify to MGI as a trusted and reliable partner of the government in powering our communities,” said Paul Elmer Morala, PGEC VP for Technical Operations.

Editor’s Note: This press release is sponsored by Maibarara Geothermal Inc. It is published by the Advertising Content Team that is independent from our Editorial Newsroom.