The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is advancing a landmark investment aimed at transforming its Leyte geothermal power complex, one of the Philippines’ most important renewable energy hubs.
The Lopez-led company has outlined plans to invest up to ₱100.88 billion to upgrade and significantly expand capacity at the Tongonan Geothermal Project (TGP) in Leyte Province.
According to documents the company filed with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the modernization initiative will increase TGP’s total installed capacity from about 637.21 megawatts (MW) to 967.22 MW.
The expansion underscores EDC’s strategy to bolster renewable baseload power amid rising electricity demand and the Philippines’ push for cleaner energy sources.
A centerpiece of the investment is the construction of the 450-MW New Upper Mahiao Power Plant (NUMPP), designed to replace the ageing Upper Mahiao facility.
The existing plant, commissioned in the 1990s, is nearing the end of its economic lifespan and is scheduled for phased decommissioning by 2029.
The new plant is expected to be built adjacent to the old one, with construction slated from 2026 to 2028 and phased commercial operations anticipated to begin as early as 2027.
Beyond generation capacity, EDC plans to enhance steam supply and reliability by constructing 27 new well pads and drilling roughly 172 additional wells within the geothermal field.
The program includes upgrading existing well pads and deploying modern drilling and steam-field technologies to optimize operations.
EDC also intends to expand its battery energy storage footprint, increasing capacity from the existing 10 MW Tongonan battery energy storage system (BESS) to 30 MW.
This enhancement is expected to improve grid support, assist with frequency regulation, and facilitate the integration of intermittent renewable sources.
In tandem with the upgrade, the company has flagged the Alto Peak site for further exploration drilling by 2027.
Should exploratory results be positive, the steam output from Alto Peak could be incorporated into the Leyte complex’s broader generation system.
EDC, the renewable arm of First Gen Corporation, is the Philippines’ largest geothermal producer, with an installed capacity across the country that contributes significantly to the national renewable energy mix.
The Leyte complex, situated on one of the world’s largest wet-steam geothermal fields, remains critical to the Visayas grid and to national energy security.
The project is now under environmental review, with construction expected to begin later this year and full implementation targeted by 2029.
If successful, the upgrade will reaffirm the Philippines’ leadership in geothermal power generation in Southeast Asia.
(Photo courtesy of EDC)
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