DOE taps foreign experts to study PH’s energy mix

The Department of Energy has sought the help of technical experts from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to formulate a more “responsive and dynamic” energy mix for the Philippines.

“Our main concern now is to increase the availability of quality, reliable, secure and affordable supply. We want to be certain on the decisions that we will make in order to entice more investments,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said in a statement.

The issue of finding the right mix (coal, renewable energy, natural gas, etc) has become a significant concern more than ever given the lack of adequate power supply to support a developing economy like the Philippines. The Luzon grid has been placed on red alert status several times over the past few weeks due to simultaneous outages of key energy facilities.

Under the current policy, the country should source 30 percent of its energy requirements from coal, 30 percent from renewable energy, 30 percent from natural gas and the remaining 10 percent from oil-based power plants.

The energy chief said he recently met with members of the USAID’s Building Low Emission Alternatives to Develop Economic Resilience and Sustainability (B-LEADERS) to discuss the formulation of an optimal energy mix and to look into local reserve requirements.

The team would also look into the availability of indigenous energy to ensure stable pricing and to lessen dependence on energy directly hit by international market prices.

“We are also looking at establishing an army of reserves so that when there is lack of supply, we have something to rely on,” Cusi added.