The agreement also covers properties of RLC’s subsidiary RL Commercial REIT (RCR) and affiliate Robinsons Supermarket Corp. (RSC).
Renewable partnership
The deal, signed on March 13, calls for the supply of more than 22 megawatts (MW) of geothermal energy to eight shopping malls and one supermarket located across five provinces.
Covered by the agreement are RLC malls Robinsons Galleria Cebu, Robinsons Fuente Cebu, Robinsons Antique, Robinsons Roxas, Robinsons North Tacloban, and Robinsons Pagadian.
Also included are RCR’s Robinsons Ormoc and Robinsons Tacloban, as well as Shopwise in San Nicolas, Cebu City, operated by Robinsons Supermarket Corp.
Geothermal sources
First Gen will source the electricity from its Unified Leyte geothermal facilities for malls in the Visayas, while the Mt. Apo geothermal plant in North Cotabato will power RLC’s mall in Mindanao.
The initiative supports the Gokongwei Group’s sustainability strategy as it works toward its Net Zero goal by 2050.
“Through this partnership with First Gen, RLC will be able to power its shopping malls with renewable geothermal energy even as our power needs peak,” said Mybelle V. Aragon-GoBio, president and CEO of Robinsons Land.
She added that the agreement also helps reduce the company’s exposure to electricity price volatility driven by global fuel markets.
Sustainability push
RLC currently owns and operates 57 shopping malls nationwide, alongside a diversified portfolio that includes office buildings, residential developments, hotels, industrial and logistics facilities, and destination estates.
Around 10 percent to 15 percent of the company’s total power requirements are already supplied by renewable sources, including rooftop solar installations with a combined capacity of 30 MW.
These solar facilities generate more than 40 percent of the electricity needs of RLC’s shopping malls.
One of the largest rooftop solar installations on a commercial building globally is located at Robinsons Starmills Pampanga, according to the company.
Energy stability
First Gen president Giles Puno said the partnership highlights the growing role of geothermal energy in supporting sustainable business operations.
“Geothermal energy is not just renewable—it’s also indigenous and the only clean energy source that can run baseload capacity,” Puno said.
He added that geothermal power provides both cost optimization and price predictability, helping businesses manage energy expenses while expanding sustainably.
First Gen currently has 1,700 MW of generating capacity from hydro, geothermal, solar, and wind facilities nationwide.
Through a partnership with Prime Infrastructure Capital, the company also holds a minority stake in four gas-fired power plants with a combined capacity of 2,017 MW, which help stabilize power supply by supporting baseload requirements.---Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
