RP seeks foreign investors in natural gas development

The Philippine government is convincing various investors from Europe, America and Japan to invest in the country’s natural gas industry, a Department of Energy official said yesterday.

Undersecretary J.V. Emmanuel A. De Dios, who headed the first Philippine delegation to the 22nd World Gas Conference 2003 (WGC2003) held in Tokyo, Japan, said the DOE took advantage of the occasion to convince power companies engaged in gas development to take a look at the development of the Philippine natural gas industry.

De Dios urged international gas companies to explore and invest in providing for the country’s requirement for additional gas-generated capacity, other non-power applications and the necessary infrastructure to bring the natural gas to its potential markets.

According to De Dios, there are a lot of infrastructure projects available to investors such as pipeline transmission and distribution networks, liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and facilities, gas refilling stations for CNG-run vehicles and ancillary facilities.

He also informed the international body that the stage for the industry’s development has been set with the preparation of a gas policy framework, industry rules and regulations and a pronouncement by President Arroyo for the preferential generation of power using natural gas.

He said with clear and concise policies, objectives, programs and strategies formulated by the DOE, together with the critical cooperation and participation of the private sector, a successful natural gas industry is ensured.

WGC 2003, held from June 1-5, marked the first time in its 72-year history that it was held here in Asia. The conference was attended by 4,800 delegates from all over the world, also the largest in its history.

The WGC is held every three years by the International Gas Union to present research results and conduct discussions on a broad range of topics, including policy-related issues like how energy affects the environment and society as well as technical issues such as gas energy-related production, storage, transportation, distribution, and consumption.

It also provides a good opportunity to consider and discuss energy issues confronting Asia from a global perspective and marks the first step towards an expanded role for the WGC in the 21st century.