The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will hold a public hearing on June 24, 2026 for Energy Development Corporation’s proposed P25-billion expansion and upgrade of the Southern Negros Geothermal Project steam field in Valencia, Negros Oriental.
The facility delivers 241.8 megawatts of its 282.5 MW rated capacity, supplying steam to three local power plants. The EDC is seeking to amend its environmental permit to expand the project area to 4,028 hectares and increase its operational zone from 151.5 to 400 hectares.
Planned upgrades include tripling the battery energy storage system from 30 to 90 megawatt-hours, adding eight wells and two well pads, more pipelines, a dedicated transmission line, and trials of new energy technologies. The changes aim to sustain production, improve efficiency, and strengthen power supply reliability while making the most of existing resources.
EDC holds over 1,100 MW in geothermal assets, covering 80 percent of the Philippines’ installed capacity. This keeps the country as the world’s third-largest geothermal producer, behind only the United States and Indonesia.
The project could boost local energy security, support renewable energy goals, and reinforce the Philippines’ global standing in geothermal power, while the public hearing ensures community input on environmental and operational impacts.
