FIRST Gen Corp. said Sunday that it and integrated food company General Milling Corp. (GMC) had agreed to renew a renewable energy (RE) supply deal in line with commitments to ensure sustainable operations.

First Gen, through its subsidiary Green Core Geothermal Inc. (GCGI), will continue to power GMC's food manufacturing complex in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu with electricity from a geothermal power plant in Negros Oriental.

GMC said that the Lapu-Lapu manufacturing complex was a critical part of its operations, which includes flour and feed milling, livestock breeding, and hatchery production. It also operates additional sites in Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, and Calamba.

"We are betting big on renewable energy because it's the future of sustainable manufacturing. This partnership with First Gen ensures that we are not only meeting today's energy needs but doing so in a way that aligns with our long-term environmental goals," GMC President Anna Gurango-Vicencio said.

"This partnership with First Gen is a vital part of our strategy to keep our energy sources sustainable as we scale our operations and deliver high-quality products to our customers nationwide," she added.

First Gen said the agreement extended an eight-year collaboration with GMC, which began in 2016 under the government's Retail Competition and Open Access policy that allows businesses with substantial electricity demands to choose their own energy provider.

Aside from helping GMC reduce its carbon footprint through steady RE supply, "we are committed to partner with them in their journey toward decarbonization," First Gen Vice President Carlo Vega said.

"It is through continuous collaboration that we can find balance between maintaining sustainable business while mitigating [the] environmental impact," he added.

First Gen shares closed 0.22 percent lower at P17.96 each on Friday.