New Zealand assists Philippine geothermal development

New Zealand government scientists are to help in further developing geothermal energy in the Philippines.

New Zealand's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS Science) will conduct viability reviews of the Philippines' Energy Development Corporation steam fields over six months. EDC is one of the largest geothermal companies in the world with 1,130 megawatts of installed geothermal capacity. An earlier evaluation by GNS Science enabled the company to save $2.48 million in operating costs.

EDC chief operating officer Richard Tantoco EDC plans to drill 75 new geothermal wells in the next four years. He said that GNS Science would work with local specialists to help improve geothermal operations at several fields.

"This will greatly help us in the reservoir management for our existing operating fields and identify and eliminate costs, complexity and risks," he said. Geothermal energy development was one of a number of areas of improved cooperation including tourism, defense and trade that were discussed during the recent two-day state visit of Philippines President Benigno Aquino to New Zealand.