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PHILIPPINE National Oil Co.-Energy Development Corp. (EDC) plans to
put up wind power projects across the country, one of the
company’s directors said.
Vincent S. Perez, EDC director, said the company
has set its sights on the clean energy source, and is reviewing the
feasibility of such an undertaking.
EDC’s planned construction of the Northern
Luzon Wind Power project in Ilocos province fell through last year
when the company was still under state-owned PNOC. Lopez-led First
Gen Corp. has since acquired majority interest in EDC in a state
auction.
Mario Marasigan, a Department of Energy
director, said that EDC’s wind projects will form part of the
agency’s indicative power project.
As proposed, the project will be done in three
phases: 42 megawatts for the first phase, 40 to 60 megawatts for the
second phase, and 10 to 20 megawatts for the third phase.
EDC is also looking at building another
20-megawatt wind power project in Ilocos Norte.
“There is indication that EDC will continue
with the wind projects under a private sector initiative,”
Marasigan said.
Besides this, the company’s wind exploration
group is conducting the feasibility studies of potential wind farm
sites in Boracay, Aklan and Nubenta, Surigao del Sur.
EDC is the country’s largest geothermal energy
producer and provider of onshore drilling services. It earlier said
that it has earmarked the bulk of its capital expenses for the year
for its drilling operations, which the company expects to become the
major growth driver this year.
-- Euan Paulo C. Ańonuevo
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