Philippines Account

8/18/2019 Philippines Account

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1. Philippines' coal-power plans unsettle clean-energy investors

Erik dela Cruz MANILA, Aug 24 Plans to boost the Philippines' coal!ired po"er capacit# b#

$ore than 2% percent in &ust three #ears "ill be a cheap solution to the countr#'s precarious

po"er suppl# but bad ne"s to inestors in clean energ#(

A total o! 2% coal!ired po"er stations are in the pipeline "ith capacit# totalling )2,2**

$ega"atts, according to an updated list o! po"er pro&ects published b# the Philippine

+epart$ent o! Energ# last $onth( "ele o! the$ "ith a total capacit# o! -,4** M. are under

construction, and are slated to be co$pleted b# 2*)/( hose plants re0uire at least )* $illion

tonnes o! coal a #ear, industr# esti$ates sho"(

About a third o! the countr#'s po"er capacit# o! nearl# )/,%** $ega"atts uses coal as !uel, but

suppl# !ro$ local $ines $ainl# o"ned b# 1e$irara Mining and Po"er Corp is not enough( Coal

i$ports soared to a record )%(2 $illion tonnes last #ear( .hile $iniscule co$pared to purchases

b# China and India, gro"ing Philippine i$ports "ill be "elco$ed b# Indonesia, its traditional$ain supplier, at a ti$e prices are !alling( he Philippines also bu#s coal !ro$ Australia, ietna$

and China(

3A signi!icant portion o! our electricit# $arket is dependent on i$ported coal !ro$ Indonesia(

I'$ "orried about our energ# securit# being put in the hands o! another countr#,3 said incent

Perez, a !or$er Philippine energ# secretar# "ho is no" the CE o! "ind po"er deeloper

Alternerg# Partners(

Pro$oting solar, "ind, h#dro and geother$al energ# has beco$e a challenge !or inestors as the

goern$ent re$ains biased to"ards lo"cost po"er !ro$ coal( Inestors hae been grappling

"ith high initial e5penses and red tape( 6ut heresa CruzCapellan, chie! e5ecutie o! 1unAsia

Energ# Inc and president o! the industr# group Philippine 1olar Po"er Alliance, sa#s the

additional coal!ired po"er plants should not be seen as lost opportunit# !or rene"ableenerg#

inestors( 36# the ti$e the# hae built those coal!ired plants, "e beliee there "ill be additional

de$and and "e can install additional capacit# in &ust si5 $onths(3

2. Experts cite potential of solar energy development in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines he Philippines has strong potential in harnessing solar energ#, both !or

consu$er use and po"er production, gien the continued drop in prices and !urther innoation inthe !ield, o!!icials said in a !oru$ .ednesda#(

he countr# is $ore than read# to &oin the solar reolution as it is nestled in the tropical zone,

1chneider Electric senior ice president !or solar business 1erge 7oldenberg said in his ke#note

speech at the Philippine 1olar 1u$$it held in Pasa# Cit#(


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8he archipelagic geolog# o! the Philippines poses uni0ue challenges in distributing energ#

produced !ro$ solar plants, but aside !ro$ that, adapting a solar energ# s#ste$ !or the countr# is

not !ar!etched,9 7oldenberg said(

:o"eer, the Philippines needs to ensure proper in!rastructure, $aintenance and connected

technologies to $ake it "ork(

8.e beliee that "ith the right energ# $anage$ent technolog#, a solar po"er s#ste$ built and

deeloped in the Philippines has the potential to beco$e a basis !or other island nations "ho

"ish to adopt the sa$e s#ste$,9 7oldendberg noted(

he priate sector should also start to look $ore into deeloping rene"able energ# ; .ater ?oundation ;ILA.= $icrogrid and o!!grid $icroutilit# $anager @ohn

:er$an said in the sa$e eent(

8+eelopers should think about the opportunities out there as the Philippines integrates


3/38

Along "ith this trend, a stud# b# the International Energ# Agenc# sho"ed solar could outpace

!ossil !uels, "ind, h#dro and nuclear to beco$e the "orldBs largest source o! electricit# b# 2*%*(

8his is an unprecedented trend( .e hae neer seen such a !ast drop in prices,9 7oldenberg

said(

3. Philippines sees slow take up of renewable energy

Leandro Leiste, 2), has taken leae !ro$ uniersit# to start a solar panel co$pan# so $uch

does he beliee in the !uture o! rene"able energ# in his countr#, the Philippines(

:e started the co$pan# in August 2*)- and has been installing solar panels on the roo!s o! the

countr#Bs biggest shopping $alls, the 1M chain o"ned b# retail t#coon :enr# 1#(

LeisteBs belie! in rene"ables has to do "ith the countr#Bs a$bition to $ake the$ account !or

hal! o! its energ# $i5 b# 2*-*, "hen de$and !or energ# is !orecast to e5ceed -*,***M., $orethan t"ice toda#Bs )2,***M.(

his a$bition is !uelled b# t"o ke# needs energ# securit# and costs according to a report

!ro$ the .orld


4/38


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4. Powering the Philippines on renewable energy

?aced "ith this situation, the goern$ent has taken steps to $itigate the po"er suppl# situation b# prioritizing the deelop$ent o! the countr#Bs indigenous rene"able energ# resources(


6/38

President o! 1olar Philippines, !or$er +epart$ent o! Energ# ;+oE= ndersecretar# @ose M(La#ug, @r(, and Co$$issioner Al!redo Non o! the Energ#


7/38

In response, the European nion has been inesting heail# in the Philippines' energ# sector( he

E has co$$itted )2 billion pesos ;12% $illion= in energ# inest$ents bet"een 2*)4 and

2*-*(

3.e hae picked energ# as one o! our !ocal areas because "e beliee that reducing the cost o!

energ# "ill help pro$ote higher econo$ic gro"th here in the Philippines,3 said 7u# Ledou5, E

A$bassador to the Philippines(

According to Mr Ledou5, "hile the per capita e$ission o! carbon dio5ide in the Philippines is

still er# lo", it is still one o! the countries $ost a!!ected b# cli$ate change( In the past t"o

#ears, the Philippines has been hit b# a nu$ber o! e5tre$e "eather eents, such as #phoon

:ai#an in Noe$ber 2*)-(

6. Asia Update: eothermal in !apan" #ndonesia" $he Philippines

The Philippines: Bids on Geothermal Contracts Announced

he


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MANILA, Philippines he bidding !or the priatization o! the output o! the 2)*$ega"att

;M.= Mindanao coal!ired po"er plant in Misa$is riental "ill be de!erred until a!ter su$$er

ne5t #ear, "hen the po"er suppl# situation stabilizes in the region, a +epart$ent o! Energ#

;+E= o!!icial said(

It "as decided earlier this $onth b# the board o! Po"er 1ector Assets and Liabilities

Manage$ent Corp( ;P1ALM= to de!er the bidding to ne5t #ear, +E IC1ecretar# enaida

Monsada said(

86idding "as supposed to take place in Noe$ber and the a"arding in ?ebruar#( 6ut that has

no" been de!erred,9 she said(

Monsada e5plained the plantBs independent po"er producer ad$inistrator ;IPPA= should be

auctioned "hen the suppl# situation is stable(

he +E o!!icial noted the auction could happen su$$er ne5t #ear(

86idding "ill take place a!ter su$$er ne5t #ear because during su$$er, suppl# situation is still

uncertain,9 Monsada e5plained(

his is the second ti$e the auction !or the IPPA o! the Mindanao plant has been reset(

Last $onth, P1ALM president and CE Lourdes Alzona announced the agenc# has pushed back

the bidding to No( 2% !ro$ 1ept( 2- in consideration o! the +E directie to de!er the

Mindanao Coal IPPA selection and appoint$ent(

he +E had said priatizing the $anage$ent o! the plantBs output could lead to higher

electricit# rates a$id the po"er suppl# shortage in Mindanao(

1i5 groups hae e5pressed interest in the Mindanao Coal IPPA, one o! the$ being a partnership

bet"een Aboitiz Po"er Corp( and Negrosbased grains trader and $iller La ?ilipina # 7ongco

Corp(

he plant, located in Misa$is riental, is operated b# 7er$an#Bs 1teag 1tate Po"er Inc( under a

2%#ear buildoperatetrans!er ;6= po"er purchase agree$ent sche$e until 2*-)(

Currentl#, 1teag o"ns %) percent o! 1teag 1tate Po"er, "ith AboitizPo"er o"ning -4 percent

and La ?ilipina the re$aining )% percent(

1teag 1tate Po"er operates the Misa$is riental plant, "hich "as constructed under a build

operatetrans!er agree$ent "ith the goern$ent(


9/38

8. Power crisis looms in ()*

MANILA, Philippines Energ# 1ecretar# Carlos @ericho Petillla "ill ask President A0uino to

declare a state o! e$ergenc# or crisis in the po"er sector to allo" the goern$ent to tap

additional po"er capacit# ne5t #ear(

:e said there is a pro&ected de!icit o! 2** $ega"atts ;M.= !or so$e da#s o! April and Ma#

2*)%, and the e$ergenc# po"ers "ould allo" the goern$ent through the Po"er 1ector Assets

and Liabilities Manage$ent Corp( ;P1ALM= to contract additional po"er(

Petilla said he is reco$$ending additional capacit# o! up to %** M., instead o! &ust 2** M. to

proide a bu!!er in case the pro&ected de!icit beco$es bigger(

8ItBs onl# !or a !e" da#s ne5t su$$er,9 he said, adding the $easure is necessar# to aoid

blackouts ne5t #ear, as so$e po"er plant pro&ects or e5pansion plans $a# not push through(

Petilla cited the Mala$pa#a natural gas !acilit# in o!!shore Pala"an, "hich is e5pected to shut

do"n !ro$ March )% to April )4, 2*)%(

Supply not enou%h

8here is an ad$ission that b# 2*)% our suppl# is not enough( here are pro&ects that "e !eel

$a# not push through,9 he said(

he Electric Po"er Industr#


10/38

bio$ass and )-(2M. h#dropo"er plant in August D(%M. Pililia .ind in 1epte$ber and a

)**M. Aion plant in ctober(

9. Electricity bills may go up this month + &eralco

MANILA, Philippines Instances o! tight suppl# and restrictions !ro$ the Mala$pa#a naturalgas !ield in o!!shore Pala"an could &ack up electricit# rates this $onth, a Manila Electric Co(

;Meralco= o!!icial said(

8here "ere seeral instances o! #ello" alerts in the suppl# $onth o! @ul# "hich $a# i$pact in

August bills,9 Meralco spokesperson @oe aldarriaga told reporters ia te5t(

A #ello" alert $eans reseres are belo" the $ini$u$ leel set b# the regulator( In the Luzon

grid, the $ini$u$ resere is pegged at 4D $ega"atts ;M.= or the size o! the 1ual po"er plant

in Pangasinan(

he Luzon grid $a# hae been placed under #ello" alert due to suppl# restrictions !ro$

Mala$pa#a(

8.e also noted suppl# restrictions !ro$ Mala$pa#a "hich $a# hae pro$pted the plants

obtaining suppl# !ro$ it to resort to utilizing li0uid !uel,9 aldarriaga added(

Meralco sources 4** percent o! its suppl# !ro$ po"er plants that derie !uel !ro$ the

Mala$pa#a natural gas !ield(

he gas !ield supplies po"er to three natural gas!ired po"er plants in Luzon "hich accounts !or 4* percent o! the islandBs po"er re0uire$ents(

hese plants are Lopezo"ned ?irst 7asB ),***M. 1ta(


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@ul# bills "ent do"n P4(%* !or a t#pical household consu$ing 2** k"h, P)G !or those

consu$ing -** k"h, P42 !or 4** k"h and P/G !or %** k"h(

10. Pampanga electric coop settles P),) loan with P.A/&

MANILA, Philippines Pa$panga II Electric Cooperatie Inc( ;PELC II= has settled itsoutstanding obligation "ith staterun the Po"er 1ector Assets and Liabilities Manage$ent Corp(

;P1ALM= a$ounting to nearl# P)() billion(

In a state$ent, P1ALM said it receied last 1ept( -* the !ull balance o! the restructured

obligation o! PELC II a$ounting to P)(*G% billion(

8he a$ount o! prepa#$ent sets the record as the biggest eer receied b# the goern$ent

po"er !ir$ !ro$ an# electric cooperatie ;EC= !or its outstanding obligation( his "ill redound

to the reduction o! stranded debts o! National Po"er Corp(9 P1ALM president and CE Lourdes

1( Alzona said(

P1ALM said PELC II is the !irst EC to succeed under the Inest$ent and Manage$ent

Contract ;IMC=, a progra$ o! the National Electri!ication Ad$inistration ;NEA=(

6acked b# IMC and a loan !ro$ the Philippine National 6ank ;PN6=, PELC II "as able to

prepa# its restructured account "ith P1ALM, "hich originall# a$ounted to P)(4- billion to be

a$ortized "ithin a period o! )* #ears beginning ctober 2*)*(

8his is a historical eent !or P1ALM because PELC IIBs prepa#$ent is the !irst !ull

prepa#$ent to us,9 said P1ALM reasur# +epart$ent $anager Manuel Marcos M( illalon II(

8It encourages ailing electric cooperaties to consider IMC as an option to address !inancial

concerns( :ope!ull#, this can be a pro&ect that the other electric cooperaties "ill also engage

in,9 he added(

In ctober 2*)*, the P1ALM board approed the restructuring o! PELC IIBs unpaid po"er

obligations(

PELC II, "hich distributes o! electricit# to the cit# o! Mabalacat and to"ns o! 7uagua,

6acolor, 1ta(


12/38

Meralco has also been tapped to upgrade the po"er distribution s#ste$ o! PELC II(

11. 0epEd: ),) & students go to schools without electricity

MANILA, Philippines er )() $illion students are enrolled in %,G%4 public schools that hae

no access to electricit#, according to the +epart$ent o! Education ;+epEd=(

+uring the launch o! the LightEd P: ca$paign #esterda#, Education 1ecretar# Ar$in Luistro

gae a co$$it$ent that the agenc# and its partners "ill "ork to"ard energizing these schools to

proide a conducie learning eniron$ent to the students(

8Personall#, I "ould "ant it to happen be!ore Christ$as,9 he said( 8I! not, hope!ull# be!ore the

start o! classes in @une 2*)(9

6ased on the data released b# +epEd, 2,4)4 o! the schools hae been identi!ied to be 8on grid9

or in areas that can be reached b# the National Electri!ication Ad$inistration ;NEA=(

1o$e ),-*/ schools, on the other hand, are in re$ote or 8o!!grid9 areas, "hile the re$aining

2,2-2 hae #et to be classi!ied(

he nu$ber o! schools "ithout electricit# has decreased !ro$ D,/)D in 2*))(

Luistro said +epEd has laid out plans to electri!# the schools that hae been classi!ied, sa#ing it

has partnered "ith NEA and the +epart$ent o! Energ# ;+E= to proide solutions through

conentional and alternatie sources o! energ#(

+epEd and NEA o!!icials signed a $e$orandu$ o! understanding #esterda#, in "hich the latter

agreed to build its ne" posts near 8ongrid but unenergized9 schools(

he education secretar# said the# also re0uested the +E to establish alternatie energ# hubs

near or "ithin schools in o!!grid areas(

8Light $akes ision possible( In the real$ o! education, let us be the light that "ill help our

children realize their ision !or the$seles, their !a$ilies and our countr#,9 said Luistro(

8.e call on eer#one to be part o! this LightEd P: ca$paign and to bring light to those "honeed it and to help in e5tending the hours o! 0ualit# learning,9 he said(

12. $urning garbage to electricity

I can understand the !rustration o! MM+A chair$an ?rancis olentino "hen he adocated

a$ending the Clean Air Act to allo" so$e garbage incineration( Eer# rain# season it is the


13/38

sa$e stor# about garbage clogging our $etro areaBs drainage s#ste$ and he, a$ong other

goern$ent o!!icials, gets bla$ed(

+P.: is dela#ed in deliering !lood control pro&ects to ease or sole Metro ManilaBs !lood

proble$( Een then, it see$s an#thing the# do "ill be 0uickl# oer"hel$ed b# the olu$e o!

garbage that "ill clog those big drain tunnels( .alking b# the


14/38

he# clai$ it has been proen to gie e5ceptional per!or$ance "ith high aailabilit# leels

$eeting all legal pollution re0uire$ents( :ere is ho" the in!or$ation $aterial described ho" it

"orksK

nce trial sa$ples hae been inspected, the "aste is $i5ed in the "aste bunker to ensure

uni!or$ calori!ic alue( It is then !ed into the boilers using the crane( 6# adding air, the "aste

then auto$aticall# burns on the co$bustion grate at te$peratures o! up to ),-** degrees C(

he high te$perature ensures the dio5ins and other to5ic pollutants are sa!el# destro#ed( he

energ# released !ro$ the "aste is used to generate stea$( he cogeneration process then $akes

e!!icient use o! the stea$ to generate electricit#(

Also, around )% industrial custo$ers are supplied "ith an aerage o! % tons o! process stea$ an

hour( A boiler po"ered b# natural gas is aailable to sa!eguard the olu$e o! stea$ output(

he residues resulting !ro$ co$bustion are used in line "ith their $aterial properties( 1lag is

used as a $aterial in road construction and landscaping( ?errous $etals are used in the iron and

steel industries( ?ilter dusts are put to use as back!ill in the $ining industr#, "hile e5tracted

g#psu$ is used b# the construction industr#(

Apparentl#, chair$an olentino is right about garbage incineration being a per!ected art in

1"eden( I googled !or in!or$ation and it see$s 1"eden ie" garbage incinaration as one o! the

countr#Bs great green achiee$ents(

he article on 1"edish garbage incineration pointed out that "hile "astetoenerg# incinerators

re$ain a controersial topic a$ong 1 eniron$entalists, thereBs been little such debate in

1"eden as the countr# increased its "aste burning capacit# oer the past decade(

1"eden no" i$ports about D**,*** tons o! garbage per #ear to help produce electricit# and

heating !or cities such as :elsingborg, a historic coastal hub o! about )**,*** people in

south"estern 1"eden(

1"eden also has !e"er "ide open spaces !or stashing garbage in land!ills( he countr# also

recognized that land!ills hae a $a&or cli$ate i$pact( .hen $aterials break do"n in land!ills,

the# e$it $ethane a greenhouse gas 2* ti$es $ore potent than carbon(

oda#, onl# one percent o! 1"edenBs "aste "inds up in land!ills( :al! o! it is rec#cled and 4G

percent is burned in "astetoenerg# !acilities, up !ro$ -G percent in )GGG(

13. &alampaya remittances may be halved this year


15/38

&A1#/A" Philippines - $he proponents of the &alampaya deep water gas-to-

power pro2ect in o3shore Palawan are expected to turn over lower royalties

to the government for ()* due to depressed global oil prices,

he Mala$pa#a consortiu$ $a# re$it hal! o! "hat "as turned oer !or 2*)4 as oil prices hae

dropped b# hal! since last #ear, 1hell Philippines E5ploration 6(( ;1PEQ= $anaging director 1ebastian Ruiniones said(

8il prices hae dropped b# hal! so roughl# speaking, itBll probabl# be hal! also,9 he noted(

he Mala$pa#a consortiu$ is co$posed o! 1PEQ, the operator and deeloper o! the Mala$pa#a

gas !ield, "ith 4% percent Cheron Mala$pa#a LLC "ith another 4% percent and PNC

E5ploration Corp( "ith the re$aining )* percent(

Last #ear, the consortiu$ re$itted G** $illion ro#alties to the goern$ent(

he 2*)4 re$ittance "as lo"er than the preious #earsB pa#$ent because the decline in the

prices o! oil and gas had an i$pact on the Mala$pa#a gas pricing(

Ruinones said the consortiu$ has alread# indicated the lo"er re$ittance !orecast to the

goern$ent(

8he +E ;+epart$ent o! Energ#=, the 6I< ;6ureau o! Internal


16/38

Mala$pa#a !uels three natural gas!ired plants in Luzon, "ith a total generating capacit# o!

2,D** $ega"atts ;M.=, or roughl# 4% percent o! the islandBs po"er generating re0uire$ents(

14. )( Pasig homes now using prepaid electricity

MANILA, Philippines At least )2* !a$ilies at a goern$ent relocation site in Pasig Cit# aresubscribed to the prepaid electricit# sche$e o! the Manila Electric Co( ;Meralco=, "hich allo"s

s$all consu$ers to bu# load credits o! up to P),***(

he 8kur#ente load9 is a &oint pro&ect o! Meralco and the National :ousing Authorit# to gie

residents o! Manggahan


17/38

he duo eentuall# beca$e one o! three !inalists along "ith t"operson tea$s !ro$ +e La

1alle niersit# and the Pa$antasan ng Lungsod ng alenzuela to represent the countr# in the

regionals(

he# also bagged the top spot against tea$s !ro$ Indonesia, 1outh Horea, Mala#sia, M#an$ar,

1ingapore, hailand and ietna$ at the East Asia regionals(

At the grand !inals held in Paris, 1antos and 1ta(


18/38

In 2*)-, Lorenz


19/38

MANILA, Philippines he +epart$ent o! @ustice ;+@= supports the proposed legislation

seeking to e5pand the bene!its !or senior citizens to coer discount in $onthl# electricit# bills(

In a threepage legal opinion released hursda#, +@ 1ec( Leila de Li$a sees nothing "rong

"ith :ouse 6ill -)G, "hich grants a !iepercent discount on electricit# consu$ption o! senior

citizens b# !urther a$ending


20/38

co$bined ?IAll rate !or 2*)4 and 2*)% $a# turn out to be P*(*/ per kilo"atthour ;k.h=, or

t"ice the proisional rate o! P*(*4 per k.h(

ransco sub$itted to the E


21/38

Industr# sources assured discussions are still ongoing and there are e!!orts to bring do"n the cost

o!


22/38

In 2**4, Ad$inistratie rder No( ))* institutionalized a goern$ent energ# $anage$ent

progra$ that sought to reduce the goern$entBs $onthl# consu$ption o! electricit# ;in kilo"att

hours= and petroleu$ products ;in liters= b# at least )* percent( 1aings !ro$ 1epte$ber 2**% to

March 2*)- a$ounted to P2 billion ;P)(D billion on electricit# and P2D4 $illion on !uel=( A

!ollo"up Ad$inistratie rder No( )/- in 2**D directed the use o! energ#e!!icient lighting

s#ste$ in goern$ent !acilities(

Earlier, the +E issued a circular re0uiring all po"erhungr# establish$ents in the industrial,

co$$ercial and transport sectors to sub$it 0uarterl# energ# consu$ption reports and an annual

energ# conseration progra$ report( he goern$ent also has an annual energ# e!!icienc#

a"ard, a recognition gien to co$panies "ith signi!icant energ# saings achieed through the

i$ple$entation o! energ#e!!icient technologies and $easures( In 2*)-, the progra$ generated

saings o! % $illion LE ;liters o! oil e0uialent= and $onetar# saings o! P2(4 billion and

$ore than G* $illion kilos o! aoided carbon dio5ide !ro$ %/ co$$ercial and industrial

establish$ents(

he !act that crude oil prices hae !allen sharpl# should not lull the goern$ent into

co$placenc#( It is actuall# "hen oil prices are depressed that the goern$ent and the priate

sector hae e5tra resources or saings to !und energ#conseration and e!!icienc# pro&ects(

6esides, crude oil prices can &ust shoot up( In Ma# )GD-, crude oil "as &ust )G(-% a barrel( A

Middle East crisis led to its surging to %)(DD a barrel in @anuar# )GD4, or onl# eight $onths

later( In @anuar# )GDG, oil "as %)(/G a barrel( 6# April )G/*, it had shot up to ))(-D( In @ul#

2**, oil "as /D(2/ a barrel( "o #ears later, it soared to )44(D/(

20.8enewable energy resource assessment and mapping

Countries in the AsiaPaci!ic region $a# hae a huge untapped rene"able energ# potential, but

the# hae li$ited technical e5pertise aailable !or identi!#ing their resources and !or addressing

cli$ate change and energ# securit#( It has beco$e essential !or these nations to respond to the

scale o! these challenges(

o be able to discuss these concerns, the +epart$ent o! 1cience and echnolog#, International


23/38

MEM6E< econo$ies o! the AsiaPaci!ic Econo$ic Cooperation ;Apec= hae rea!!ir$ed their

co$$it$ent to slash their 8energ# intensit#9 b# 4% percent in 2* #ears in a bid to !urther reduce

their carbon !ootprints(

Energ# intensit# re!ers to a co$paratie $easure to deter$ine the energ# e!!icienc# o! each

econo$# calculated as units o! energ# per unit o! gross do$estic product ;7+P=, Apec

e5plained(

At the 4th Apec E5pert 7roup in Energ# E!!icienc# and Conseration ;E7EEC= $eeting held

recentl# in Cebu, the group also co$$itted to !urther intensi!# e!!orts that "ould enable

$e$bers to achiee this goal(

hese e!!orts "ill be geared to"ard reducing an econo$#Bs energ# consu$ption b# adopting

energ# e!!icienc# $easures in the di!!erent sectors o! societ#( his is e5pected to result in a

reduction o! dependence on i$ported energ# resources, protect the eniron$ent and !oster a

sustainable energ# s#ste$ !or AsiaPaci!ic(

he Apec E7EEC is actiel# pursuing its Energ# 1$art Co$$unities Initiaties Hno"ledge

1haring Plat!or$ ;E1CIH1P= as a tool to consolidate ideas, best practices and energ# e!!icienc#

and lo" carbon pro&ects( hese are ai$ed at supporting Apec E7EECBs !our $ain pillarsK s$art

transport, s$art buildings, s$art grids, and s$art &obs and consu$ers(

8Apec econo$ies are encouraged to support the deelop$ent o! the E1CIH1P to deter$ine

appropriate pro&ect proposals that "ill address the re$aining challenges in achieing the Apec

LeaderBs energ# intensit# reduction goal,9 Apec said(

he econo$ies that are said to hae lo" energ# intensities are the highl# productie states that

hae $anageable "eather patterns "hich use high energ# e!!icienc# appliances and e0uip$ent

that appl# energ# e!!icient technologies in its buildings and industries "hich use e!!icient $ass

transport s#ste$ and !uel e!!icient ehicles and adopt energ# conseration $easures, a$ong

others(

22. P needs to invest in renewable energy

:E P:ILIPPINE1 is considered one o! the leading countries "hen it co$es to la"s dealing

"ith cli$ate change and disaster risk reduction and $anage$ent( No less than the nited

Nations +eelop$ent Progra$$e has hailed the countr# !or its being a 8leader in cli$ate change

policies(9

he Philippine +isaster


24/38

change adaptation( 1uch la"s $a# be in place, but it is in their i$ple$entation that the

Philippine goern$ent has a proble$(

ake the


25/38

energ#( 6ut then, $ere cli$ate adaptation practices are not enough( .e need to sho" other

countries the "a# to cli$ate $itigation and sustainable deelop$ent, using rene"able energ#(

he A0uino ad$inistrationBs last #ear in o!!ice $ust be deoted to achieing sustainable, not &ust

!iscal, gro"th !or the entire Philippines it $ust not !ocus on pro!its alone( his ad$inistration

can leae a lasting legac# b# harnessing rene"able energ# and ensuring a lo"carbon path as

part o! its strateg# to attain inclusie and sustainable deelop$ent(

President A0uinoBs last 1tate o! the Nation Address, "hich "as deliered last @ul#, disappointed

because it did not contain an# clear and de!initie co$$it$ents to pro$ote and institute the use

o! rene"able energ#an undertaking that has beco$e a race against ti$e as ulnerable

Philippine co$$unities continue to su!!er !ro$ unprecedented droughts and other i$pacts as a

result o! abnor$al, e5tre$e "eather patterns and eents(

he PhilippinesB intended nationall# deter$ined contributions ;IN+C=, "hich is to be sub$itted

be!ore ctober to the nited Nations ?ra$e"ork Conention on Cli$ate Change ;N?CC= to

be held this +ece$ber in Paris, $ust take into account the countr#Bs $oral ascendanc# on the

issue o! cli$ate &ustice( And it should push us to "alk our talk on cli$ate action(

Inesting in rene"able energ# is the !irst step( A clear and de!initie co$$it$ent to the

countr#Bs IN+C $ust be pledged, "ith a clear ision o! the inputs to be $ade and outco$es to be

e5pected( Lastl#, the Philippines $ust "ork hard and "ith resole to help the N?CC reach a

!air and binding cli$ate deal co$e +ece$ber(

23. APE% funds energy resilience pro2ect

he Philippines has secured !unding !ro$ the AsiaPaci!ic Econo$ic Cooperation ;Apec= !or a

pro&ect to pro$ote energ# resilienc# in the region, an o!!icial o! the +epart$ent o! Energ#

;+E= said(

Loreta A#son told reporters on the sidelines o! the Philippine Econo$ic 6rie!ing that she had

signed the acceptance papers !or the pro&ect called 8.orkshop on I$proing Energ#


26/38

"orkshops, putting in all the e5perts "ith regards on energ# resilienc#, including the

in!rastructure, and then "e "ill "ant to do a handbook on the guidelines on ho" to attain energ#

resilienc# in o!!grid areas o! participating econo$ies( his "ill take up standards o!

in!rastructure, retro!itting o! poor 0ualit# in!rastructure, and engineering solutions, to "ithstand

the strongest cala$ities(9

he pro&ect entails conducting a series o! "orkshops a$ong Apec $e$berecono$ies to identi!#

and address co$$on challenges, lessons learned and best practices in i$proing resilienc# o!

energ# in!rastructure in o!!grid areas gien the threats o! natural disasters and the i$pacts o!

cli$ate change(

hese areas are so re$ote that connection to the $ain grid is not an i$$ediate option( Electricit#

in these areas is $ainl# sourced !ro$ diesel generators putting the suppl# at risk in ti$es o!

energ# disruptions(


27/38

LPC &oined t"o other diesel and bunker oilbased independent co$panies as suppliers o! Paleco,

along "ith +MCI, as the proince anticipates a leap in po"er de$and due to an e5pected surge

o! inest$ents in touris$ and agroindustrial pro&ects(

25. Apec eyes energy e9ciency roadmap

CE6 CIO, Philippines1enior o!!icials !ro$ $e$berstates o! the Asia Paci!ic Econo$ic

Cooperation ;Apec= "ill dra!t a road$ap that "ould pro$ote energ# e!!icienc# $easures and

push !or eniron$ent!riendl# deelop$ent across the region(

At the opening o! the 4th E5perts 7roup on Energ# E!!icienc# and Conseratie ;E7EEC=

Meetings on Monda#, Energ# ndersecretar# +onato +( Marcos said that discussions oer the

ne5t t"o da#s "ould !ocus largel# on de!ining ke# issues that need to be addressed and

opportunities that Apec econo$ies can take adantage o!(

he output o! the $eetings are e5pected to help senior Apec o!!icials in dra!ting the road$ap inctober(

8?or this 4th $eeting, "e hae identi!ied priorit# areas !or discussion as stated in the agenda,

na$el#, energ# e!!icienc# and best practices in buildings har$onization o! energ# e!!icienc# test

$ethods !or re!rigerators in the Apec region har$onization o! standards and enhancing technical

capacit# in $easure$ent and eri!ication o! energ# saings o! pro&ects and the like ehicle !uel

e!!icienc# labeling and rein!or$ation sche$es energ# e!!iciencies, policies and progra$s and

energ# intensit# and rene"able energ# goals, a$ong other things,9 Marcos said(

he Philippines, according to Marcos, has co$e up "ith an energ# e!!icienc# road$ap and acorresponding energ# e!!icienc# and conseration action plan that "ill be i$ple$ented !ro$

2*) to 2*2*(

8his road$ap is enisioned to be the $asterplan o! the Philippine +epart$ent o! Energ# in

achieing energ# e!!icienc# and conseration progra$s and actiities to higher leels and de!ine

the role o! goern$ent in co$ing up "ith a range o! $easures ai$ed at i$proing energ#

e!!icienc#, drien b# legislatie orders and decrease targeting energ# saing progra$s( .e hae

identi!ied !ie energ# intensie sectors in our action plan, na$el#, the transport industr#,

co$$ercial and residential buildings, a$ong others,9 Marcos told Apec o!!icials(

he Philippines has been aggressiel# pro$oting the $assie use o! rene"able energ# "hich it

targets to $ore than double the


28/38

8At the end o! the $eetings, I hope that "e can gro" a sustainable !ra$e"ork and sho" ho"

Apec E7EEC supports the Apec co$$unit# push !or energ# e!!icienc# and conseration, as "ell

as sho" ho" "e can all support each other, rein!orce each other in the area o! in!or$ation

sharing, capacit# building and replication o! initiaties,9 he said(

he E7EEC is a biannual !oru$ o! Apec $e$berecono$ies that pro$otes energ# conseration

and application o! energ# e!!icienc# practices and technologies as the groupBs contribution to the

international e!!orts in reducing the aderse i$pacts o! increasing energ# production and

consu$ption(

Later this "eek, senior Apec o!!icials "ill discuss $easures to i$proe the 0ualit# o!

in!rastructure across the region, as the# highlight its ke# role in !ueling econo$ic gro"th(

8Apec recognizes the i$portance o! 0ualit# in!rastructure in econo$ic gro"th o! the Asia

Paci!ic, not onl# in ph#sicall# connecting the region but also in ensuring the e!!icient $oe$ent

o! goods, serices and people bet"een and "ithin borders,9 Apec said in a state$ent(

8Rualit# in!rastructure directl# supports e!!icient transportation and teleco$$unications

serices, air and sea ports, custo$s procedures, energ# distribution, !ar$to!ork logistics,

a$ong other things,9 it added(

In!rastructure deelop$ent and !inancing "as identi!ied as one o! the !our pillars o! the Cebu

Action Plan on a ?inancial


29/38

he )%*$ega"att rene"able energ# pro&ect "ill be undertaken b# E$erging Po"er Inc( ;EPI=,

"hich put up a 4*M. geother$al po"er plant in Mindoro last #ear(

EPI is controlled b# Nickel Asia Corp( ;NAC=, one o! the countr#Bs biggest $ining !ir$s(

According to 16MA, it recentl# allo"ed EPI to ac0uire a G*percent stake in @obin1RM Inc(;@1I=, "hich is a 1ubic ?reeportregistered co$pan# that signed a $e$orandu$ o! agree$ent

last #ear "ith the inest$ent pro$otion agenc# and the local indigenous people !or the

i$ple$entation o! the clean energ# pro&ect on Mount 1anta


30/38

either LP7 or gasoline, the Cabinet o!!icial e5plained in a hearing presided oer b# !inance

subco$$ittee chair 1en( 1erge s$eSa III(

8And there are no" issues co$ing out about LP7, that it s$ells and $akes ta5i driers sick,9

Monsada said, adding that dizziness "as a co$$on co$plaint( 1he also agreed "hen s$eSa

pointed out that leak# LP7 tanks $a# be the culprit(

A goern$ent interagenc# co$$ittee is no" looking into these co$plaints, she said( 8;he

co$$ittee= "ants to clari!# the real score about LP7 as !ar as the ta5i driers are concerned,9

Monsada said(

he co$$ittee includes the +epart$ent o! :ealth ;+:=, "hich she said is conducting a stud#

to 8alidate clai$s o! ta5i driers that the# are getting sick because LP7(9

As earl# as ctober 2*)2, ho"eer, the +: reealed the !indings o! a stud# on the health risks

posed b# 8i$properl# conerted9 ta5is that use LP7(

Increasing co$plaints o! dizziness, headache, lightheadedness and dr#ness o! throat a$ong ta5i

driers pro$pted the +: to conduct the stud# "ith the National Poison Manage$ent and

Control Center based on the niersit# o! the Philippines ca$pus in +ili$an(

he stud# coered rando$l# selected $ale driers o! 2 LP7 and )- conentional ehicles(

+: regional director Eduardo @anairo then reported that e5posure to autoLP7 caused the$

headaches, back or nape pain, chest pain, cough, dizziness, dr# throat, !atigue and $uscle

"eakness, nausea and breathing di!!icult#(

hese $aladies "ere !urther traced to the decreased delier# o! o5#gen to the bod#Bs ital

organs( 8ere5posure $a# cause unconsciousness and een death,9 the stud# also "arned(

LP7conerted ehicles also e5posed the driers to a leel o! h#drogen sul!ide / ti$es higher

than that $easured in conentional ehicles( he carbon $ono5ide leel, $ean"hile, "as eight

ti$es higher(

he !indings ca$e out a #ear a!ter the In0uirer published a !ourpart special report on LP7

po"ered ehicles and the health risks the# posed, based $ainl# on interie"s "ith driers(

he use o! LP7 as auto$otie !uel in the countr# "as pro$oted !or its eniron$ental bene!its

and cost e!!icienc# as earl# as 2**2, three #ears a!ter the passage o! the Clean Air Act(

In a position paper that #ear, the Philippine Li0ue!ied Petroleu$ 7as Association Inc( noted that

LP7 use results in lo"er greenhouse gas e$issions and does not adersel# a!!ect soil and "ater

in case o! leakage(


31/38

In 2**/, "ith about D,*** ehicles running on LP7 locall#, the Arro#o ad$inistration launched a

P)billion progra$ to help o"ners o! &eepne#s, buses and ta5is conert their diesel or gasoline

!ed engines(

6ut in Noe$ber 2*)), Monsada, then the director o! the il Industr# Manage$ent 6ureau o!

the +E, said the proble$s arising !ro$ the use o! LP7 as ehicle !uel could be traced pri$aril#

to a !ault# conersion process(

28. P pro2ects in energy ;7scars<

Philippine co$panies and pro&ects are co$peting at the Platts 7lobal Energ# A"ards, dubbed

8the scars o! the energ# industr#(9

A$ong the !inalists is 1e$irara Mining and Po"er Corp( ;1MPC=, "hich "as selected under the

8Corporate 1ocial


32/38

regions( 1ho"casing these $onu$ental achiee$ents a$ong distinguished peers, e5alts the

e5cellence in energ#,9 Platts said(

.inners "ill be announced at the 2*)% Platts 7lobal Energ# A"ards blacktie dinner on +ec( G

in Ne" Oork Cit#(

29. Anticoal church turns to solar energy

:I1 CA:LIC parish priest "alks the talk( Msgr( E$$anuel illareal, "ho has been er#

critical o! a proposed coal!ired plant in the coastal to"n o! Ati$onan in Ruezon proince, has

turned to green energ#, la#ing solar panels on the roo! o! the ur Lad# o! the Angels Parish

Church(

Meralco Po"er7en plans to put up a ),2**$ega"att ;M.= coal!ired po"er plant on an /*

hectare propert# in 6aranga# illa Ibaba, Ati$onan, D- kilo$eters south o! Manila( riginall#, it

intended to pursue a li0ue!ied natural gas ;LN7= co$bined c#cle po"er plant, but conerted the pro&ect to coal plant in the absence o! goern$ent polic# support !or the LN7 industr#(

8.eBre not onl# opposing the plant, "eBre also o!!ering a sa!e alternatie !or our co$$unit#

$e$bers to e$ulate and !ree the$ !ro$ being dependent on !ossil !uel,9 illareal said in a phone

interie"(

he +iocese o! Lucena led b# 6ishop E$ilio Mar0uez is leading the ca$paign against the

proposed po"er pro&ect( In @une, $ore than ),%** people led b# church leaders, staged a

procession around Ati$onan, criticizing coal!ired po"er plants !or speeding up global "ar$ing(

* coal+fired plants

Ruezon proince alread# hosts t"o coal!ired plantsthe D-%M. plant in Pagbilao to"n

!acing a#abas 6a#, "hose generating capacit# is being e5tended b# an additional 42* M. "ith

another plant, and the ),%**M. plant in Mauban to"n, "hich is also !acing the Paci!ic cean(

Ati$onan $unicipal o!!icials hae alread# approed the coal!ired plant pro&ect, sa#ing it "ould

create ),*** to 2,*** &obs !or local construction "orkers aside !ro$ a ta5 "ind!all e5pected !ro$

plant operations(

Ma#or @ose Mendoza has clai$ed that e5cept the Church, his to"n $ates !ull# supported the

pro&ect( he proincial goern$ents and other $unicipalities hae also approed it, he said(

:o"eer, the +epart$ent o! Eniron$ent and Natural


33/38

illareal re!uted the $a#orBs clai$ o! "idespread support( 8he church has been sering as !ront

and oices o! the silent $a&orit# in the co$$unit# against the plant pro&ect,9 the priest said(

A %kilo"att ;H.= gridtiedsolar s#ste$ "as installed on the roo! o! the heritage church as part

o! a ca$paign against the coal!ired !acilit#( illareal said the rene"able energ# pro&ect "as also

the local churchBs concrete response to the call o! Pope ?rancis to care !or the eniron$ent in his

recent ecolog# enc#clical, 8Laudato 1i9 ;Praise 6e=(

86# $aking a s$all step to"ards beco$ing a green church, "e are proiding our people a strong

$essage that s"itching to rene"able Tenerg#U "as possible and "e, starting "ith our

co$$unities, can do it no",9 he said(

urning green is a big stride !or the ur Lad# o! the Angels Parish Church, "hich is $ade o!

stones and steeped in histor#(

he !irst church "as burned do"n b# +utch inaders in )4*, according to the historical $arker

installed b# the National :istorical Co$$ission( he second "as built in )4-, but it "as

da$aged b# a !ire in )4/(

he present church and conent "as built bet"een )/D and )D**, but both "ere seriousl#

da$aged b# an earth0uake in )G-D(


34/38

he bio!uel that "ould co$e out o! the process could then be used to !ire up diesel!ed

generators to produce t"o $ega"atts o! po"er each da#, he said(

), 7tto Energy abandons awkeye-) well

7tto Energy /td, is set to abandon the awkeye-) exploration well o3

Palawan as resources failed to meet expectations,


35/38

In a pro&ect update, tto said :a"ke#e) had been drilled to the planned total depth o! 2,G2*

$eters(

he top reseroir "as intersected at 2,D)* $eters( :#drocarbons "ere logged bet"een 2,D)* and

2,D-D $eters( 6elo" 2,D-D $eters, "ater "as in!erred !ro$ log obserations(

:a"ke#e) "ill no" be plugged and abandoned, tto said(

he Australian co$pan# said the drilling progra$ "as e5ecuted s$oothl#, ahead o! schedule,

and ahead o! budget(

tto is !ull# carried on the cost o! drilling :a"ke#e)(

Managing director and CE Matthe" Allen said, 8he :a"ke#e) e5ploration "ell has proen

the e5istence o! h#drocarbons in 1C%%( he h#drocarbon size discoered is ho"eer at the er#

lo" end o! e5pectations and is not econo$ic to deelop(9

tto "ill no" incorporate the results !ro$ the "ell into the co$pan#Bs studies o! the other

prospects, including Cinco, in the license "hich potentiall# share the sa$e charge source, he

said(

.hile the result at :a"ke#e is 8disappointing,9 tto is still a "ell!unded e5plorer "ith high

i$pact e5ploration actiit# in the ne5t )2 $onths, he said(

tto is preparing !or the upco$ing e5ploration progra$s in its Alaskan and anzania assets(

tto is an Australian 1ecurities E5changelisted oil and gas co$pan# "ith a strateg# to gro" an

integrated petroleu$ business through e5ploration(

?ocused on conentional oil pla#s in proen petroleu$ areas, tto used to operate the producing

7aloc oil !ield in the Philippines(

32. Power situation in P ;manageable< amid El 1i?o" says ex-energy

chief

?or$er Energ# 1ecretar# @ericho Petilla on .ednesda# said the countr# has su!!icient suppl# o! electricit# a$id an ongoing El NiSo pheno$enon, but stressed the i$portance o! continuous

$onitoring(

Petilla said the po"er situation in the countr# "as 8$anageable9 especiall# in Luzon, "hich does

not heail# depend on h#dropo"er(


36/38

6ut despite the 8$anageable9 situation, Petilla e$phasized the need to $onitor e5isting

generating capacit# in preparation !or El NiSoBs i$pact particularl# in areas in Mindanao, "hich

has been rel#ing on h#droelectric po"er plants(

8hereBs a need to prepare !or El NiSo because it is e5pected to last up to ne5t #ear( here are

alternatie sources like diesel po"er plants "hich can be tapped b# electric cooperaties,9 Petilla

said in a break!ast !oru$ in Manila(

Noting that Mindanao cannot solel# rel# on "ater rationed b# authorities, Petilla said electric

cooperaties should start contracting enough capacit# as earl# as no", een i! the e!!ects o! El

NiSo are still not being !elt so that the# "ould not be caught o!! guard ne5t #ear(

Petilla also urged consu$ers to practice po"er conseration $easures, such as setting the

ther$ostat o! air conditioners at 2% degrees Celsius, "hich he said could slash a householdBs

energ# consu$ption b# as $uch as -* percent(

33. PetroEnergy pro2ects go commercial

"o rene"able energ# pro&ects o! PetroEnerg#


37/38

based 7eother$al 1cience Inc( ;71I= "hich con!ir$ed $ore than su!!icient reseres !or

co$bined M) and M2 po"er generation !or 2% #ears,9 +el!in said(

his capacit# increase is e5pected to enhance M7IBs reenues( 8.e ai$ !or M2 unit to be online

b# third 0uarter, 2*)D,9 +el!in said(

n 1ept( -*, the +E also issued the Certi!icate o! Co$$ercialit# dated 1ept( 24, 2*)% !or

P1CBs %*M.p arlac 1olar Pro&ect located in Central echnopark, arlac Cit#(

8.ith t"o ne"


38/38

he National 6io!uels 6oard ;N66= said it co$$issioned the stud# to ealuate the i$pact o!

increasing the biodiesel blend to % percent(

he N66 is $andated b# the 6io!uels Act o! 2** to reie" and i$ple$ent biodiesel blends(

8.e "ant to consider the i$pact on the agriculture sector, speci!icall# the coconut industr#( .e"ant to be sure that the !ar$ers "ill reall# bene!it !ro$ this,9 Monsada e5plained(

At the sa$e ti$e, she said, 8.e donBt "ant the $otorists to rall# because o! higher prices due to

increased blend(9

nder the Philippine Energ# Plan 2*)22*-*, the +E ai$s to increase the biodiesel blend to %

percent !ro$ the current 2 percent(

6# 2*2* and 2*-*, the target is to raise the blend to )* percent and 2* percent, respectiel#(

In 2*)2, the PCA asked the N66 to !asttrack the increase o! the $andated blend to keep up "ith

the "orld"ide !uel charter( nder the 6io!uels Act, the blend $a# be increased taking into

account considerations such as do$estic suppl# and aailabilit# o! locall# sourced biodiesel

co$ponents such as CME(

he +epart$ent o! Agriculture has also been pushing !or the increased blend to assist the

coconut industr#(

he goern$ent originall# planned to accelerate the i$ple$entation o! the increased blend in

response to the calls !ro$ arious stakeholders(

6ut i$ple$entation lagged "hen 1upert#phoon Oolanda raaged ke# production areas(

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