Wilmar Edible Oils Philippines Inc.(Wilmar), the Philippine unit of leading multinational agri-business group Wilmar International Limited, has marked a key milestone in its decarbonization initiatives by shifting to geothermal energy, through a partnership with First Gen Corporation (First Gen), the leading renewable energy (RE) provider in the country.
“Our partnership with First Gen reinforces our commitment to responsible operations, climate action while ensuring reliable power supply to support our operations. Since energy is typically one of the major sources of operational emissions, shifting to RE offers a practical, measurable way to reduce environmental impact while supporting long-term business continuity and cost stability,” said David Lim, chief financial officer of Wilmar Edible Oils Philippines, Inc.
Under the supply agreement signed on Jan. 21, 2026, First Gen will provide geothermal energy sourced from the Mt. Apo geothermal plant in Cotabato to power Wilmar’s 24/7 processing facility in Gingoog, Misamis Oriental, which includes copra crushing, processing and refining of edible oils.
“Geothermal power is the only RE source that has baseload capability which can support the electricity demand of industries, while ensuring a reduction in its carbon footprint. We remain committed to supporting Wilmar as it continues to embed sustainability across its operations in the Philippines,” said Carlo Vega, chief customer engagement officer of First Gen.
First Gen has over 1,700 megawatts (MW) of RE capacity from over 22 geothermal, wind, solar and hydro facilities nationwide.
To offset the intermittence of RE and help ensure energy supply and security, First Gen has a 40-percent interest in four gas-fired power plants with a total capacity of 2,017 MW, in partnership with majority owner, Prime Infrastructure Capital, Inc.
Over the next five years, First Gen aims to increase its portfolio of RE and low-carbon power generating facilities and grow its capacity to 13 gigawatts.
