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Positive local reception of Montelago project in the Philippines

Positive local reception of Montelago project in the Philippines Mindoro-San Jose-Sablayan (Source: CC, Flickr, By: Jacques Beaulieu)
Alexander Richter 20 Apr 2015

Locals are looking forward to a more reliable and cheaper electricity supply. Geothermal can provide both.

Following an earlier announcement were Emerging Power Inc and Nickel Asia have secured part of the equity needed to develop a geothermal power plant in Mindoro, Philippines.

According to local sources, the region is connected to the national power grid, yet the service is patchy at best (grid stops working during storms) and expensive for customers. There is potential ranging from 28 to 40 MW depending on the source (1 & 2) and “Emerging Power says the government hasn’t maximized geothermal’s full potential. The company estimates the Mindoro project, to be privately funded, will cost $185 million to complete. Engineers hope energy production will start within the year, and that could mean a big financial savings for locals. Right now, villagers in Montelago who own some electrical appliances, such as refrigerators, pay about $30 a month for their unreliable electricity. But once the island is hooked up to a geothermal-powered grid, the monthly cost will be about half that.”

Geothermal development has been projected before but no real plant has been built for the time being. Let’s hope this time a new, renewable power source can be developed.

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Source: World Crunch