by: Rodrigo S. Victoria
NAVAL, Biliran – The community relations officer of the Biliran Geothermal Incorporated (BGI) assured the public, in an interview at the BGI office this morning that the geothermal company’s drilling operation is safe and going smoothly.
“So far so good” was the positive remark of Mark Oraa, BGI community relations officer, regarding the on-going drilling operations of BGI in the Biliran geothermal project located in Barangay Cabibihan in Caibiran town.
Oraa disclosed that there were personnel from the Department of Energy (DOE) who conducted inspection before the drilling activity was conducted just to ensure the safety of the drilling operations at the project site.
It was learned from Oraa that BGI has established one drill pad at the project site in Barangay Cabibihan.
He also assured the safety of BGI’s drilling operations since it is closely supervised by experts on geothermal project from the Icelandic Drilling Corporation (IDC) who have vast experience in undertaking various geothermal projects in Iceland and in other parts of the world.
“These experts are strictly supervising the drilling operations of the Biliran geothermal project in Biliran province” Oraa informed.
He added that personnel from the regional office of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources also conducted random visits to the geothermal project site to ensure environmental safety of the project.
Personnel from the provincial office of the Biliran-DENR also conducted regular visits to the BGI geothermal project, he further informed.
“All activities regarding the implementation of the Biliran geothermal project undergo thorough scrutiny, inspection and approval by concerned government agencies and stakeholders” Oraa emphasized
He disclosed that BGI was able to accomplish approximately 500 meters since it started the drilling operation on the second week of October, this year.
DOE only allowed BGI to drill 2.4 kilometers at the maximum per hole to be drilled or lesser if the geothermal source will be hit immediately during the drilling, he said.
He also clarified that the capacity of the geothermal source that will be obtained from the drilling of the first hole will be deducted from the 49 megawatts applied by BGI to the DOE in its project pursuant to the exploratory drilling permit granted. (PIA 8 Biliran)