MakBan and Tiwi Agile Project - Overhauling Days Reduction

Abstract

In 2009, the MakBan and Tiwi geothermal power plants were acquired by AP Renewables Inc. (APRI), a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corporation. APRI is one of the leading geothermal energy companies in the Philippines, delivering clean and renewable baseload power through its two facilities: Makban Geothermal Power Plant (MGP) with an installed capacity of 458 MW, and Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant (TGP) with 361 MW. To maintain plant integrity, a comprehensive overhaul is conducted every three years. However, these overhauls often exceeded planned timelines—extending standard durations of 23, 28, and 48 days to actual averages of 26, 36, and 57 days, respectively. To address this challenge, APRI adopted the Agile methodology. In 2021, the "OH Days Reduction" project became one of the company’s three pioneering Scrum-Agile initiatives. The projects primary objective was to reduce overhaul durations from 26–36 days to 18 days, thereby maximizing power generation and improving plant availability. Implemented using the Scrum framework—an iterative and adaptive approach to project management— the project was driven by a dedicated Scrum Team composed of a Scrum Master, a Product Owner, and Developers. Among the team’s key accomplishments were the development of a Critical Spare List and Acquisition Plan for both MGP and TGP, and the successful implementation of High-Velocity Oil Flushing. Over the course of three years (2021–2024), the OH Days Reduction project achieved an average reduction of 5.6 days in overhaul durations, contributing significantly to operational efficiency and reliability.