The approval, which enabled the entry of the facility in the WESM, effective 4 November 2013, will allow Maibarara Geothermal to sell its output to buyers in the market when the facility becomes operational.
The company had started construction of the facility in Sto. Tomas, Batangas in April 2012 and expects to complete by the end of the year.
Additionally, the company has received certificate of compliance approval from the Energy Regulatory Commission in October 2013 to start commercial operations of the facility. It began tests on the steamfield in the second quarter of 2013 and completed by the third quarter of the same year.
The company, in collaboration with Meralco and NGCP, has synchronized the facility to the Luzon grid through a 5km-long 115kV transmission line via the Meralco distribution system.
Rizal Commercial Banking and Bank of the Philippines had provided a loan of PHP2.4bn ($55.5m) to partially fund the facility, which features three major components: steamfield, power station and transmission facilities.
EEI built the facility, while Fuji Electric supplied major plant equipment under an EPC contract and will also provide maintenance services for the facility.
