|  The Energy Department approved six geothermal power contracts last year as the Philippines aims to become the world’s largest producer of the energy. The Philippines is currently the second-largest geothermal power producer in the world, next to the United States. Geothermal power accounted for 14.7 percent of the power generation mix in 2010. The department approved the contract of Pan Pacific Power Philippines Corp. for geothermal projects in Benguet, Cagayan and Abra. The department approved the company’s Cervantes geothermal power project in Benguet, Cagua-Baua in Cagayan and Sal-lapadan-Boliney-Bucloc-Tubo in Abra. Pan Pacific, according to the department, is a local company with a foreign partner. The company is building a 600-MW hydropower project in Apayao, which was approved by the department in December. Pan Pacific is also developing small hydropower projects such as the 4.3-MW Tinglayan in Kalinga and the 4.44-MW Bauai River in Gonzaga, Cagayan. The projects were approved also in December. The department, meanwhile, approved the geothermal projects of SKI Construction Group Inc. in San Juan, Batangas, Tiaong in Laguna, Quezon and Batangas and Tayabas-Lucban in Quezon. |