Engineer Napoleon “Nap” Saporsantos, 57, aimed to become part of the country’s Top 50 corporations but got more than he bargained for when he left a three-year teaching stint to join Philippine Geothermal Production Corporation (PGPC, then Philippine Geothermal, Inc.) as a cadet engineer in 1991.
This homegrown talent literally did the rounds, starting out in the Facilities Engineering Department, then moving to process engineering and operations to eventually take charge of one of the pioneer geothermal plants in Southeast Asia in 2017.
But it was not an easy path. He recalled facing rejection from leading corporations early on in his career in the late 1980s after graduating with a degree in chemical engineering. He was also quite intimidated by any leadership role until his mentor’s words became his guiding principle to this very day.
“No one succeeds without going out of their comfort zone,” Engr. Saporsantos recalled his mentor saying.
Taking on the challenge of a growing geothermal industry
There was little demand for renewable energy during the early years of Nap’s career with PGPC, as the world relied heavily on fossil fuels. At that time, the company was already breaking boundaries on its steam production
Geothermal power also plays a vital role in sustaining many communities. A few decades ago, geothermal companies enhanced support for their host communities by addressing basic needs such as water, power supply and employment.
He recalled that the main challenge was how to make such support sustainable. “We have to teach them how to fish. Today, our partners and the communities themselves run the programs.”
Through partnerships with LGUs, the company has provided livelihood trainings to its host communities in order to equip them with skills for income generation, such as preparing homemade meat products and doing mechanical work for motorcycles.
Today, the industry faces an even bigger challenge in a more competitive environment as the race is on towards the nation’s goal to increase its renewable energy mix to 35% by 2030. To achieve this goal, PGPC can contribute a steady source of energy with its 24/7 operations, regardless of the country’s changing seasons.