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Philippines Geothermal Drilling: Rufino "Dong" Cotanda Jr. on PGPC, EDC, ThermaPrime, and the Future of Geothermal Energy
Alphaxioms Exclusive: Inside the Philippines' Geothermal Drilling Success Story , A Conversation with Rufino "Dong" Cotanda Jr.
Image : Rufino "Dong" Cotanda Jr
The Philippines is the world's third-largest producer of geothermal electricity, with more than 2 GW of installed capacity. Behind this achievement is decades of technical expertise, sustained government support, and some of the world's most experienced geothermal drilling professionals.
One of those professionals is Rufino "Dong" Cotanda Jr., a drilling veteran with over 45 years of experience in both oil & gas and geothermal operations. Having worked with Saudi Aramco, Desco, Unocal, Chevron, and now the Philippine Geothermal Production Company (PGPC), Dong has helped shape drilling programs across multiple continents.
In this exclusive interview with Alphaxioms, he discusses the evolution of geothermal drilling in the Philippines, the technologies improving well performance, the country's future growth plans, and the lessons emerging geothermal markets can learn.
A Career Built on Four Decades of Drilling Excellence
"I have over 45 years of drilling experience between oil & gas and geothermal," Dong explains.
His career has taken him across the Middle East, Asia, North America, and Australia, where he has held various drilling leadership positions. Working in different geological environments has given him a broad understanding of how drilling technologies can be adapted to maximize performance while managing operational risk.
Today, he serves with the Philippine Geothermal Production Company (PGPC), one of the country's leading geothermal developers.
Why the Philippines Became a Global Geothermal Leader
According to Dong, the country's geothermal journey began with Unocal, whose experience at The Geysers geothermal field in California helped establish modern geothermal exploration in the Philippines.
The establishment of a dedicated geothermal arm within the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) accelerated exploration and development across the country's volcanic regions.
Government incentives and financial support from institutions such as the World Bank further strengthened the sector.
Today, the Philippines has approximately 2,034 MW of installed geothermal capacity, making it the world's third-largest geothermal electricity producer.
"The country recognized early that it possessed abundant geothermal resources and invested in developing them," Dong says.
The Companies Driving Philippine Geothermal Development
The Philippine geothermal industry is currently led by two major developers:
EDC recently completed a large multi-rig drilling campaign and continues drilling additional wells.
Meanwhile, PGPC has completed a multi-well drilling program, drilled three exploration wells, and is currently drilling another exploration well within one of its concession areas.
Dong notes that PGPC's parent company the SM Group continues investing heavily in renewable energy, including geothermal, solar, and wind power.
ThermaPrime: Decades of Filipino Drilling Expertise
When discussing geothermal drilling contractors, Dong highlights ThermaPrime as one of the industry's most respected names.
Originally spun off from the geothermal drilling division of the Philippine National Oil Company, ThermaPrime has accumulated decades of operational experience.
Its drilling teams have supported geothermal developments not only within the Philippines but also in Africa, Japan, and Papua New Guinea.
One characteristic particularly stands out.
"The rig crews are 100% Filipino," Dong says, underscoring the country's world-class geothermal workforce.
Major Projects Underway
Several important drilling campaigns are currently shaping the Philippine geothermal sector.
PGPC continues exploration drilling across multiple concession areas using one drilling rig.
EDC is drilling make-up wells using two rigs while simultaneously carrying out well workovers.
Meanwhile, MGI is preparing a drilling campaign involving four to five make-up wells.
These activities reflect continued investment in sustaining and expanding geothermal production across the country.
Drilling efficiency has improved dramatically over recent decades.
Among the technologies Dong believes have delivered the greatest impact are:
- Aerated mud drilling systems
- Polymer drilling fluids that reduce stuck pipe incidents
- Pressure While Drilling (PWD) technology
- Application-specific Polycrystalline Diamond Compact (PDC) drill bits
He also credits PGPC's technical team for becoming an industry leader in PDC bit performance and recommends speaking with colleague Graham Mensa-Wilmot (XCIDRILL Technology), who played a significant role in developing those capabilities.
The Biggest Challenges Ahead
Despite the industry's success, geothermal drilling continues to face significant obstacles.
Technically, today's downhole measurement tools still struggle under extreme geothermal temperatures.
Battery limitations in Measurement While Drilling (MWD) systems, signal interference caused by geological formations, and limited downhole fluid measurement capabilities remain major operational challenges.
Commercially, exploration costs remain high because many geothermal prospects are located in remote mountainous regions requiring expensive road access and drilling infrastructure.
Dong expects geothermal activity to remain strong over the next decade.
PGPC alone possesses enough concession areas to support exploration and development for the next 10–15 years.
Both PGPC and EDC are expanding generation through binary geothermal power plants, while MGI is preparing additional drilling campaigns.
International service companies such as SLB and Halliburton are also expanding their presence in the Philippines, reflecting confidence in the sector's long-term growth.
Lessons for Kenya, Indonesia, and East Africa
As countries such as Kenya, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Tanzania expand geothermal development, Dong believes the Philippine experience offers valuable lessons.
Governments should establish attractive incentives that encourage private-sector investment in exploration and field development.
Equally important, emerging geothermal nations should collaborate with experienced organizations rather than attempting to reinvent proven development models.
"There are many successful approaches available. Be humble enough to learn from established organizations and countries," he advises.
A Career Highlight
Among many achievements, Dong says building successful organizations and mentoring future drilling professionals gives him the greatest satisfaction.
He also points to introducing the "factory drilling" concept during his time with Unocal in the Gulf of Thailand,a project that successfully progressed from concept to full-scale implementation.
Advice for Future Engineers
His advice to young professionals is straightforward.
Remain curious.
Keep asking questions.
Seek mentors with practical experience.
Develop a deep understanding of physics and engineering principles because every successful drilling operation depends on understanding why systems behave as they do.
The Industry's Greatest Challenge: Experience
Dong concludes with a message that resonates far beyond the Philippines.
Many of geothermal's most experienced professionals are retiring, while global geothermal development is accelerating.
Without effective knowledge transfer, the industry risks losing decades of invaluable expertise.
"My life's purpose is to share my experience and knowledge with the industry," he says. "The geothermal industry has given me so much."
The Philippines has demonstrated that long-term investment, skilled professionals, supportive government policy, and continuous innovation can transform geothermal resources into a pillar of national energy security.
As countries around the world pursue clean, reliable baseload power, the Philippine geothermal story offers a roadmap worth studying.
And as Rufino "Dong" Cotanda Jr.'s remarkable career illustrates, the future of geothermal depends not only on better technology,but also on preserving and passing on the knowledge of those who helped build the industry.
Interview conducted by Robert Buluma
Founder & CEO, Alphaxioms – Geothermal Intelligence & Energy News
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