Geothermal handbook: PlanninG and Financing power Generation t e c h n I c a L r e p o r t 2 / 2

role of Core geothermal development Organization
In a country aspiring to scale up geothermal resource development, the government needs to set 
up an appropriate institutional structure. The experience of countries that have been successful in 
developing geothermal resources highlights the importance of a national champion or a dedicated 
core agency in charge of geothermal exploration and development. This can be a government agency 
or, preferably, a state-owned company with the requisite industrial capabilities. The company in 
charge of geothermal exploration may not necessarily have geothermal energy as its sole focus. The 
Philippines offers an example of an effective model based on leadership by a state-owned oil company 
(PNOC EDC). The example of Mexico points to the possibility of a similarly effective leadership by 
an integrated state power company (CFE) in geothermal development. Examples of state-owned 
companies with a specific focus on geothermal energy are the Geothermal Development Company 
(GDC) of Kenya and Pertamina Geothermal Energy Corporation (PGE) in Indonesia.
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