In a big win for clean and renewable energy in Mindanao, an electricity-intensive business operation here has shifted to geothermal power to run its facilities.
According to Donna Robles, chief operating officer of Mets Cold Storage Services, Inc., they have recently entered into an agreement with Energy Development Corp., a subsidiary of Lopez-owned First Gen, to supply its cold storage facility in Barangay Tablon here with geothermal energy.
The supply agreement, signed last October 3, covers up to 2,050 kilowatts of power for Mets’ expanding facility here, which currently offers more than 7,100 metric tons of cold storage capacity.
‘We are pleased to partner with First Gen to reduce the energy intensity of our cold storage operations,’ Robles said in a statement. The geothermal power will be wheeled from EDC’s Mt. Apo geothermal power plant in Cotabato province.
Robles said Mets’ tapping of renewable energy marks a major step toward greener operations.
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‘This move will reduce not just our energy cost but our carbon footprint as well, while providing a stable power supply,’ Robles pointed out.
Arlene Sy-Soriano, assistant vice president and head of sales and engagement at First Gen, said the partnership aligns with both companies’ sustainability goals.
‘Cold storage is critical for ensuring safety and sanitation across the food and pharmaceutical supply chains,’ she said. ‘We are committed to partnering with Mets to ensure they can power their cold storage operations sustainably with a steady supply of renewable energy.’
Large power customers have the option to source supply directly from generators, as provided under the open access provision of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act.