TACLOBAN CITY — A decades-old plan to harness geothermal energy in Biliran has hit a new snag after provincial and municipal leaders voiced strong opposition to the project’s expansion.

Biliran Governor Rogelio Espina said that he will not grant permits for the Biliran II Geothermal Project, or BIIG, to proceed anywhere in the province. The governor’s statement followed social media reports suggesting that work on the project could resume early this year.

“No permit application for this project has reached the capitol,” Espina said in a statement. “We have not granted any, and we will not allow additional drilling or any activity for their expansion.”

The push to develop geothermal power in the region dates back to 1979. While exploratory wells were drilled in the early 1980s, the project has struggled to gain momentum for over 40 years.

In 2024, a new consortium — including AG&P Industrial, Cresphil Inc., Energy Stream Power Corp., and Royal Eijkelkamp — announced it would take over the management and development of the site.

Energy Stream Power Corp. CEO Carlos Ruiz previously estimated the project’s potential at 50 to 70 megawatts across an 11,178-hectare area.

Despite the potential for renewable energy, local officials are facing significant public pressure. Opponents of the project argue that geothermal activity could lead to environmental disasters, though officials noted that no specific study has confirmed such risks.

Mayor Rhodessa Delante-Revita of Caibiran, where much of the activity was centered, clarified that the project has been non-operational during her tenure.

“The local government has not issued any permit for drilling and will not allow any activity that may endanger the municipality’s forests, watersheds, natural resources or communities,” Revita said.

She added that any future geothermal activity would require strict evaluation, transparency and “meaningful public consultation” before being considered.