Maibarara Geothermal Inc. (MGI) has been recognized by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for its operational performance and contribution to power system reliability in 2025.

The company, a member of the Yuchengco Group of Companies, was cited under the Geothermal Generation category during the ERC’s 25th Founding Anniversary celebration held on June 26, 2026.

MGI was recognized for its exemplary operational performance and commitment to power system reliability, with the ERC citing its contribution to the stability, adequacy, and resilience of the Philippine power system.

The regulator also noted that MGI maintained its facilities within allowable unplanned outage limits in 2025.

MGI Vice President Paul Elmer C. Morala received the award during the ceremony led by ERC Chair Saturnino Juan Jr. and Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin.

MGI operates the 32-megawatt Maibarara geothermal facility in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, which consists of the 20 MW M1 unit and the 12 MW M2 unit.

The M1 unit was commissioned in late 2013 and began commercial operations in February 2014, while the M2 unit went online to the Luzon grid in April 2018.

MGI said M1 was the first renewable energy project declared commercial under the 2008 Renewable Energy Law framework by the Department of Energy in 2011.

“On behalf of our YGC principals, our partners ACEN Corp. and PNOC-RC, and the MGI team, we express our deep appreciation to ERC led by Chair Saturnino Juan Jr. and DOE Secretary Sharon Garin for this recognition,” MGI President F.G. Delfin Jr. said.

“As the youngest of only four commercially operating geothermal companies in the country, we are simultaneously honored and motivated by this award,” he added.

Delfin said the recognition also underscores the need to add more modern, clean, and reliable baseload power facilities in the country, especially as several baseload plants in the Visayas remain on extended outages.

“MGI is responding to this imperative with our plan to explore and develop new geothermal resources in our Maibarara service contract block,” Delfin said.

MGI said the ERC citation builds on its earlier recognition from the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation as the Most Compliant Geothermal Company in 2024.

The PEMC award recognized MGI’s performance in offered capacity, dispatch conformance, and adherence to standards, which the company said reflected the facility’s high plant capacity and availability factors.

“These PEMC and ERC awards testify to MGI as a trusted and reliable partner of the government in powering our communities,” Morala said.

How can additional geothermal capacity help strengthen the Philippines’ supply of clean and reliable baseload power?

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