BACOLOD CITY, June 3 (PNA) — An official of the Energy Development Corp. (EDC) said they are committed to comply with environmental conditions set by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Negros Occidental even after downsizing their operation in Northern Negros Geothermal Power Plant (NNGPP) in Bago City.
Dwight Maxino, vice president of the Negros Island Geothermal Business Unit, said they have complied with all the environmental requirements imposed by the Provincial Board.
The conditions were stated in a memorandum of agreement (MOA) they had signed, he said.
“We continue to extend support to our host communities,” Maxino said.
The equipment at the NNGPP have been transferred to EDC’s Nasulo steamfield in Valencia, Negros Oriental.
The Board of Investments (BOI) had earlier approved the P4.64 billion investment of EDC for the construction of the 49.4 megawatts Nasulo geothermal power plant.
In 2011, the EDC shut down its operation of the 40-MW NNGPP located inside the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park after steam production in the project site regressed.
Subsequently, EDC relocated NNGPP’s electro-mechanical equipment to the Palinpinon 2 geothermal power complex in Negros Oriental.
At present, the EDC is looking for a contractor to build a modular plant for NNGPP in Barangay Mailum, Bago City, Maxino said.
In two NNGPP host-communities in Murcia town and Bago City, some 3,378 families availed of projects under EDC’s HELEN (Health-Education-Livelihood-Environment), he said. (PNA)