8 firms bid for two new geothermal fields in the Philippines
Tongonan, Leyte Geothermal power plant, Philippines
Alexander Richter
5 May 2015
Philippine Department of Energy receives bids for two geothermal sites, Area 2 (Southern Leyte geothermal prospect) and Area 3 (Amacan geothermal prospect).
Local news from the Philippines state that the countr’s Energy Department said it received eight bids for two new geothermal sites.
Energy director Mario Marasigan said the number of bidders reflected a “huge turnout.”
“We have eight bids for geothermal and 31 bids for hydro and we’re very happy with the turnout,” he said.
The department offered four areas for geothermal exploration and development, but only two areas received bids.
Marasigan said the bidders should pass the pre-qualification process such as legal, technical and financial stages.
“Winning bidders will be announced on Sept. 4,” he said.
The energy official said most bidders were local companies, with some of them having foreign joint venture partners.
Marasigan said geothermal projects would take longer to develop than hydro projects, but both projects would have the same development cost of $2.5 million to $3 million per megawatt.
The two geothermal sites that received bids are Area 2 (Southern Leyte geothermal prospect) and Area 3 (Amacan geothermal prospect).
Repower Energy Development Corp., Cabalian Bay Co. and AP Renewables Inc. submitted bids for Area 2, while Repower, APC Energy Resources, Emerging Power Inc., Energy Development Corp. and Biliran Geothermal Inc. submitted bids for Area 3.
The department did not receive bids for Area 1 (Acupan-Itogon area) and Area 4 (Balut Island).
“The areas that did not receive bids will be opened for direct negotiation,” Marasigan said.
Source: Manila Standard Today
