By HENRY EMPEÑO | October 6, 2025

MARIVELES, Bataan — A combination of solar and geothermal energy sources now delivers 100 percent clean energy to factories and businesses at the main zone of the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) here, reducing dependence on fossil-based grids while ensuring continuous operations for industrial production.

The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) said in a statement that it has installed a 6-megawatt rooftop solar facility across 14 factory buildings at its Mariveles site. This provides daytime electricity directly where it is consumed, thus minimizing transmission losses.

To cover peak energy demand, meanwhile, AFAB gets baseload power from the 20-megawatt Mariveles Solar Plant operated by Citicore Solar Bataan Inc. at the nearby barangay of Alas-Asin.

For continuous 24-hour industrial operations, on the other hand, AFAB relies on the 123-megawatt Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant in Kananga, Leyte.

This combination of renewable energy sources “allows AFAB to sustain industrial activity inside the Freeport while contributing to the country’s broader transition toward clean energy,” said Engr. Johnmark Dizon of AFAB’s Freeport Facilities Department.

“By securing a 100 percent renewable supply in its main zone (17 FAB expansion areas are spread across eight Bataan towns and one city), the FAB strengthens its position as a competitive investment destination built on sustainable and future-ready infrastructure,” Dizon added.

The Bataan freeport’s journey to sustainable energy supply began in 2014 when AFAB signed in the Filipino-Korean firm Next Generation Power Technology (NGPT) Corp. to develop a P2-billion solar energy project.

NGPT then teamed up with Citicore and officially launched a 20-megawatt solar plant project in 2016.

In the September 26 Arangkada Philippines Investment Forum at Marriott Manila, AFAB Administrator and CEO Hussein Pangandaman touted the transition to renewable energy, saying it “reflects how an economic zone can pursue growth while advancing sustainability.”

He said this “bold move strengthens FAB’s competitiveness and cements its role as a model for sustainable development.”

AFAB further said the shift to renewables makes the Bataan free port more attractive to investors, as it boosts their confidence that production schedules and long-term plans are backed by dependable power supply.

Moreover, “it signals that the FAB is not only equipped with modern infrastructure, but is also adapting to the changing requirements of global trade, where low-carbon operations are increasingly valued,” AFAB added.

The Freeport Area of Bataan now hosts 155 registered businesses, among them San Miguel Corporation, which has committed P10.6 billion for food processing and power generation ventures.

FAB’s 17 new expansion areas throughout Bataan are expected to bring additional investments to further solidify the free port’s role as key economic driver in the region. 