Energy Development Corp (EDC) on Friday said it has acquired a majority stake in four geothermal projects in Chile and Peru.

Federico Lopez, EDC chairman and chief executive, said that the company and Australian partner Hot Rock Limited (HRL) entered into a joint venture agreement to co-develop the Calerias and Longavi projects in Chile, and the Quellaapacheta and Chocopata projects in Peru.

The company will own 70 percent interest in each of the projects.

“We are pleased with the speedy conclusion of the negotiations with HRL as we now look forward to starting exploration work in what we view as attractive geothermal concessions in both Chile and Peru. These projects will showcase EDC expertise and help elevate the company as a Philippine corporate champion on the world stage,” he said.

HRL is an Australian based international renewable energy company holding 23 geothermal tenements across Chile, Peru and Australia.

As the world’s largest integrated geothermal power producer, EDC, in partnership with HRL, now seeks to accelerate the development of the joint venture projects it inked with the latter. EDC and HRL are also looking at the possibility of expanding the scope of partnership by including HRL’s other sites.

Besides these projects, EDC was also recently awarded the contract to exclusively develop the Newen, San Rafael and Batea geothermal exploration concession in Chile.

“A full team of geothermal scientists will be deployed to Chile this month to start development activities on the joint venture projects and the EDC granted projects,” Lopez said.

With over 35 years of experience in developing geothermal power projects in the Philippines, EDC now looks to leverage its technical expertise and expand its operations globally. EDC has also submitted 13 applications for geothermal concessions in Chile, and is also looking at opportunities to develop geothermal projects in Indonesia and Kenya.

“The acquisition of these concessions in Latin America are the first steps in realizing our vision to establish a global presence and further solidify our position as the pre-eminent international leader in geothermal power development,” Lopez added.

EDC is the world’s largest integrated producer of geothermal power and the acknowledged global leader in wet steam technology. EDC is engaged in the exploration, development and optimization of geothermal fields, as well as the operation and maintenance of the geothermal power plants with an aggregate capacity of 1,130 megawatts.