Energy chief bats for more diverse energy supply mix

MANILA, Philippines - Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla has underscored the need for a robust and diverse power supply mix to help ensure the country’s needs.

Speaking at the National Geothermal Association of the Philippines’ 10th General Assembly in Makati yesterday, Petilla stressed the need to utilize renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro and geothermal instead of just coal.

He said while the country’s energy source is dominated by coal, the Department of Energy does not favor any particular type of fuel or fuel source. He said that the government just wants to ensure sustained supply balancing the power supply sources.

In Mindanao, he said the DOE is focused on solving the short-term power supply problem in the island. He said the region is poised to take on around 1,000 megawatts (MW) of new supply by 2015 to 2016 with the completion of several new power projects in Davao and Saranggani, among others.

“While these are mostly coal-based, we foresee more renewable energy projects to come on-stream next,” Petilla said.

Similarly, Renewable Energy Bureau director Mario Marasigan said geothermal energy is already staging a comeback with new fields being developed and existing areas gearing up for expansion.

“The Philippines is Asia’s pioneer in geothermal energy and second largest producer in the world, next to the United States,” he noted.

For his part, Philippine Geothermal Production Co. Inc. president Tony Yee said the DOE’s support to the geothermal sector is encouraging.

“With the fresh service contracts, we renew our commitment to deliver clean geothermal energy and strengthen our position to enhance the value of Tiwi and Mak-Ban by implementing resource development projects over the next years,” Yee said.