The City of Ormoc, together with First Gen-owned 100% renewable energy arm Energy Development Corporation (EDC), will celebrate the unveiling of EDC's redesigned geothermal wellhead monument as part of the city's 77th Charter Day festivities. This monument not only highlights EDC's four decades of partnership toward a progressive Ormoc City but also recognizes the city's role in promoting a decarbonized Philippines as the home of the world's largest geothermal steam field.
The event will take place at the Simangan Rotonda in Barangay San Pablo, Ormoc City, on October 18, 2024, at 6pm. It will be attended by key officials, including Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, 4th District of Leyte Congressman Richard Gomez, EDC Vice President and Head of Corporate Strategy and Planning Ryan Velasco, and EDC Head of Leyte Geothermal Facility Andy Durog and Head of Leyte Corporate Relations Erwin Magallanes.
The enormous monument, standing at 26 feet tall, serves as a powerful symbol of geothermal energy's significant contribution to the country's renewable energy landscape. As the holy grail' of renewable energy, geothermal power is unique in its ability to provide clean, reliable energy around the clock, using the wellhead structure to control the steam harnessed beneath the Earth to generate electricity for homes and businesses.
The wellhead rotunda features a beautifully landscaped garden area along with the company logos of First Gen and EDC, illuminated by strategic lighting to ensure it remains striking and visible even at night. A water fountain display will soon be operational to add a dynamic visual element, enhancing the overall experience. This revitalized space aims to become a key attraction, drawing both city locals and tourists alike.
In his message, Mr. Velasco highlighted EDC's ongoing projects to further expand the company's geothermal operations in Ormoc City. "Aside from our current geothermal facilities in Ormoc City and Municipality of Kananga, we target to operate our 28MW Mahanagdong geothermal binary plant and our Battery Energy Storage System by this December.
"On behalf of our mother company, First Gen Corporation, and us in EDC, we thank Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez and Cong. Richard Gomez for this recognition and for fully supporting our goal of going full steam ahead in growing our geothermal portfolio," said Mr. Velasco. He also thanked the Ormocanons for supporting EDC all these years, thereby becoming part of the solution to our climate crisis.
Other attractions include out-of-home directional billboards that EDC is placing in strategic locations along the route from Tacloban Airport to Kananga and Ormoc City.
The unveiling of the redesigned wellhead figure and the installation of directional billboards are part of EDC's Project Wow Geo 24/7 campaign, which aims to promote Ormoc City and the province of Leyte as home of the world's largest geothermal field that provides 100% clean, reliable, and renewable energy 24/7.
Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is First Gen Corporation's 100% Renewable Energy (RE) subsidiary with over 1,463.78MW total installed capacity that accounts for almost 20% of the country's total installed RE capacity. Its 1,169.85MW geothermal portfolio comprises 80% of the country's total installed geothermal capacity, making the Philippines the third largest geothermal producer in the world. First Gen is the Philippines' leading clean energy company. ###
