CEBU-BASED steel manufacturer and property developer the Chioson Group of Companies and FLB Prime Holdings Inc. have renewed their partnership with First Gen Corp., one of the country’s leading renewable energy providers, to continue sourcing geothermal power for their business operations in Cebu.
Under the renewed power supply agreement signed on April 30, 2025, First Gen will deliver 2.1 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Chioson Group’s steel manufacturing plants in Mandaue City and the FLB Corporate Center in Cebu City. The supply will come from First Gen subsidiary Energy Development Corp.’s (EDC) geothermal plants located in Kananga and Ormoc City, Leyte.
Chioson Group’s facilities—operated through Chioson Development Corp., Puresteel Manufacturing Corp. and FLB Industries Inc.—will benefit from clean, uninterrupted 24/7 power from geothermal sources, supporting the company’s commitment to sustainable and low-carbon manufacturing.
“Over the last five years that we have partnered with First Gen, we have avoided at least 5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. We take pride in knowing that every steel product we make leaves behind the lowest carbon footprint possible. The Chioson Group looks forward to continuing our sustainability journey with First Gen,” said Bernard Chioson, chief operating officer of Chioson Development Corp.
The partnership, which began in 2020, is part of the Chioson Group’s long-term push toward carbon neutrality. The group manufactures a wide range of steel products—including c-purlins, corrugated sheets, square and rectangular tubes, rigid conduit pipes, rebars and nails—while powering operations with renewable energy.
Arlene Sy, vice president for Sales and Marketing at First Gen, noted the company’s ongoing efforts to scale up its geothermal capacity. “As we move ahead with our drilling program to harness more geothermal energy, we are confident that we can enable and empower more companies to advance their decarbonization journeys,” she said.
EDC, a First Gen subsidiary, currently operates 13 geothermal power plants with a combined installed capacity of nearly 1,200 MW—roughly 60 percent of the Philippines’ total geothermal output. First Gen’s renewable energy portfolio also includes hydro, wind, and solar power, with an additional 400 MW of installed capacity. The company’s broader energy mix features four natural gas-fired power plants totaling 2,017 MW, offering flexibility to complement intermittent renewable sources.
The agreement reflects a growing shift among industrial players in the Visayas toward sustainable operations, reinforcing Cebu’s position as a forward-looking economic hub embracing clean energy solutions. / KOC