The Department of Energy (DOE) is solidifying partnership with the United States government on policy formulation that the Philippines would be needing for the rebirth of its gas industry that shall be ushered in by liquefied natural gas (LNG) importations.
The tie-up of the two governments is through the second batch of technical assistance program for the Gas Policy Development Project (GPDP) funneled by the US State Department through the University of the Philippines- Statistical Center Research Foundation (UPSCRFI) with the support of the DOE.
“We are hoping that this particular undertaking will be the beginning of more collaboration with the US government to further solidify our partnership,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said.
Just recently, the energy chief was lamenting that American companies appeared to have “forgotten the Philippines” when it comes to energy investments; but during the signing to the US technical assistance to the gas sector on Thursday (April 29), Cusi referred to them as “our American friends helping us attain our energy goals for the country.”
Cusi asserted that “a robust natural gas industry is crucial to ensuring a secure and sustainable energy future for the Philippines.”
The energy secretary has grand ambitions of positioning the country as LNG hub, but achieving that goal could be a lofty one – especially since neighboring markets, even in the Southeast Asian region, are relatively more advanced in the development of their respective gas markets because more deep-pocketed investors had taken their investment-offers more seriously.
As Cusi constantly sounded off, part of his dream is having the Philippines “as LNG hub that can serve not only our energy needs, but also that of the Southeast Asian region.”
Cusi acknowledged though “there is still a lot of work ahead of us,” with him stressing that “we do realize that our vision requires tremendous commitment and collaborative effort among all our stakeholders, especially those who are managing and regulating the industry.”
The fresh round of technical assistance extended by the US government to the Philippines will update the country’s gas roadmap within 2017-2040 timeframe; a follow-through to the first phase that had been centered on Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Regulation.
In Cusi’s view, “the prospect of natural gas and LNG development in the Philippines have been promising,” with him citing that one emerging player in the sector in American firm Excelerate Energy. For the roadmap updating, Cusi emphasized that deliverables will be on “expansion of supply source, infrastructure and market enhancement, capacity and skills building for agency regulators, as well as the formulation and efficient implementation of relevant sectoral policies.”