Leading integrated telecommunications company PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) are advancing their transition to renewable energy with the full switch of seven of their facilities in the Visayas to geothermal electricity use.
Through a supply partnership with energy company First Gen Corporation (First Gen), PLDT and Smart will be using geothermal energy to power up seven facilities located in Cebu, Samar, Capiz, and Iloilo. These facilities will source their renewable energy supply from First Gen’s 100 per cent renewable energy arm, Energy Development Corporation (EDC).
“This geothermal switch will allow us to save around P27 million in electricity costs on an annual basis for our seven facilities in the Visayas. This will also support our broader decarbonisation roadmap and will enable us to reduce our emissions by about 16 thousand tons this year, which amounts to 26 per cent of our total target emissions reduction for 2023.”, said Melissa Vergel de Dios, PLDT and Smart Chief Sustainability Officer, First Vice President, and Head of Investor Relations.
The telcos are also exploring further with First Gen the expansion of geothermal energy use for more of their sites across the Philippines, including data centres.
“We have committed to make Sustainability part of the way we operate and shall remain steadfast in delivering on our decarbonisation targets. As we turn to renewables and clean energy, we are also supporting the Philippine government’s plan for green energy transition,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT and Smart President and Chief Executive Officer.
“In 2016, we made the decision to close our doors to coal-fired power plants to keep our energy portfolio clean and green. It was one of the most significant business decisions we made to show how serious we are in pursuing our decarbonisation mission. It gives us motivation to continue doing what we do with partners like PLDT. We know that it is only by working together that we can power through to a greener and more progressive future.” said Giles B. Puno, First Gen’s President and Chief Operating Officer.
In 2022, PLDT and Smart disclosed their decarbonisation roadmap which targets to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 40 per cent by 2030. This covers the transition to renewable energy and green technology solutions to power up their network facilities, data centres, and operational sites across the country.
These initiatives underscore PLDT and Smart’s contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 for Affordable and Clean Energy, and Goal 13 for Climate Action.
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