New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Catherine McIntosh led a 20 plus strong delegation of New Zealand diplomatic, energy, business, research, and education professionals in a visit to the Maibarara Geothermal Power Plant (MGPP) in Batangas on September 8, 2025. The New Zealand delegation is in the country to participate in the Philippines-New Zealand Geothermal Week arranged by New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE), wrapped around the 6th Philippine International Geothermal Conference co-hosted by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Geothermal Association of the Philippines (NGAP).

After a short briefing on MGI’s operations, field development, and the company’s initiatives on community support and environment protection, MGI officials led the visitors on a tour of Maibarara’s steamfield, power generation, and transmission facilities that currently produce 32 MW of clean, baseload, and indigenous energy. MGI also provided the New Zealand delegation with an overview of the company’s preparations for a deep exploration drilling program in 2026 to test an undrilled sector of Maibarara that may harbor another geothermal resource which can add new geothermal power capacity for MGI and the Philippines.

“MGI is grateful for the services rendered by New Zealand firms that were instrumental in MGI’s early success, from reserve estimation through laboratory services and cooling tower treatment; from downhole surveys through well work-overs, and digital mapping. The technologies and advices we have received from our New Zealand partners enable us to meet the myriad challenges MGI faces as developer and operator,” said MGI President Francisco G. Delfin, Jr. “As important, we thank the New Zealand government for providing human capital development assistance for Filipino geothermal professionals. MGI’s own workforce has benefited from this generosity, and we proudly reaffirm our commitment to sustaining and deepening this collaboration.”

Ambassador McIntosh expressed optimism as she and the rest of the delegation were able to see the Maibarara geothermal facility in action.

“Maibarara’s journey, enriched by New Zealand expertise, reflects the deep and longstanding geothermal partnership between our two countries. It was especially encouraging to meet engineers who trained in New Zealand, including those who were part of the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme, and are now applying those skills here at home. Our partnership is about learning from each other, celebrating achievements, and working together for a cleaner and brighter energy future,” Ambassador McIntosh concluded.