Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata Inc. (PMM) renewed its agreement with clean energy provider First Gen Corp. for the supply of renewable electricity for its production facility. The supply deal is aligned with the commitment of the Japan-based electronics giant to shift electricity used in all its factories and offices around the world to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.
“Together, we in First Gen and PMM are not just reducing emissions but also shaping a future where environmental responsibility and growth go hand in hand,” First Gen president and chief operating officer Francis Giles Puno said during a signing ceremony to mark the renewal of their agreement.
PMM is the Philippine unit of Murata, a worldwide manufacturer and innovator of electronic components and solutions that supplies parts for some of the world’s largest tech companies. Its manufacturing facility in the Philippines, located inside the Lopez-led First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP) economic zone in Batangas, is the company’s biggest manufacturing facility in Southeast Asia and focuses on the production of multilayer ceramic capacitors which are used for electric vehicles and 6G communications technology.
PMM and First Gen initially forged a supply agreement in 2021. Under the new agreement, the power supply for PMM will come from the Bacon-Manito geothermal power facility in Bicol, operated by First Gen subsidiary Energy Development Corp., the world’s largest vertically integrated geothermal company.
“The renewal of our supply agreement with First Gen highlights our companies’ decarbonization and sustainability goals. While we aim to capture the demand for components that support emerging technologies, we want to do so in a manner that is cost-efficient, best in class, and carbon-neutral,” said the president of the Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata, Masayoshi Koda.
PMM’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality is part of countermeasures it has adopted against climate change. PMM is Murata’s first overseas facility to operate on 100 percent renewable energy. The facility has been operating on 100 percent renewable energy since 2022 and supply from First Gen was at the heart of this achievement. Aside from using geothermal energy, the plant harnesses power from over 6,700 solar panels installed at its facility with a capacity to generate close to 3,000 kilowatts of electricity.
PMM has also integrated comprehensive environmental management programs in its operations, including the design and manufacturing processes of its electronic products. Across its supply chain, PMM selects materials with low environmental load and increases the input ratio of recycled materials.
In addition, First Gen’s affiliate Pi Energy Inc. provides other solutions for PMM that lowers the risk of unforeseen power interruption – a hitch that can be detrimental to the sensitive equipment and production lines of electronic component makers. Beyond the supply of clean and renewable energy, Pi Energy also constructed a transmission line that utilizes extremely sensitive equipment and machines to prevent unwanted downtime and unnecessary repairs for its Batangas facility.
“This extended collaboration not only strengthens our bond but also reinforces our shared dedication to environmental stewardship,” Puno pointed out.
First Gen has a long history and a strong advocacy to fight climate change. The advocacy explains why its power plants run either on renewable energy sources, such as hydro, geothermal, solar, and wind; or on natural gas – considered the cleanest form of fossil fuel. These power facilities have a total installed capacity of 3,666 megawatts.
