PetroEnergy’s Maibarara Geothermal Power Project Gets ECC

PetroEnergy Resources Corp. (PERC) is pleased to announce that its 40 MW Maibarara  Geothermal Power Project was issued an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 4A (DENR-4A) office today, August 11, 2010. PERC will develop Maibarara, located in Calamba, Laguna and Sto. Tomas, Batangas, and intends to commission the first 20 MW integrated steamfield and power plant by late 2013. PERC and its environmental consultant, SMEC Inc, conducted the baseline environmental studies alongside initial consultation with local government units immediately after the DOE award of the Maibarara service contract last February 1, 2010. The environmental examination report was submitted on May 16 and after a series of consultations with the DENR review team the report was finalized and accepted by DENR-4A last July 8, 2010. The ECC granted by DENR-4A covers the four major phases of the project: well work-over and drilling, installation of the fluid collection and reinjection system, power plant construction, and the erection of transmission facilities. The ECC requires PERC to, among other conditions, form a multi-partite monitoring program, establish an environmental guaranty fund, and undertake mitigating measures whenever necessary in each phase of the project.

PERC President Milagros V. Reyes said “Achieving this milestone is a testament to our continuing and meaningful collaboration with public agencies and private partners alike. The supervision provided by DOE and the thorough review conducted by DENR-4A show the government’s commitment to clean and renewable energy projects by credible industry players. With the ECC issuance, PERC and our partners will now prepare for the work-over of the wells scheduled late this year to early next year. Naturally, our consultation with local communities and stakeholders will continue.”

DOE OIC Assistant Secretary Mario C. Marasigan congratulates PERC for obtaining the ECC in record time and notes that Maibarara is the first among the nine geothermal service contracts awarded last year to obtain an ECC for the entire scope of project development. “The release of the ECC for Maibarara shows that environmental protection and community consultation are paramount considerations in DOE’s projects. PERC’s accomplishment should also spur other geothermal service contractors to meet their work program commitments to the DOE, such as completing their feasibility studies and obtaining their respective project ECCs, among others” he said. Moreover, OIC Assistant Secretary Marasigan welcomes PERC’s forging agreement with Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. and PNOC – Renewables Corp. to develop the Maibarara Geothermal Power Project.