PR
The House Committee on Energy is eyeing Russia as a partner in building new sources of Energy for the Philippines.
According to Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, panel chair, Russia is into various forms of energy production which could be tapped to help boost our country’s energy requirements.
“The issue of energy was one of the topics discussed in the bilateral talks between Russia and the Philippines,” Velasco, who was part of the President Rodrigo Duterte’s entourage to Russia, said.
Velasco noted that 68 percent of Russia’s energy production comes from thermal energy, 16 percent from hydro and 16 percent nuclear.
Russia is also known as having the largest natural gas reserves in the world; the second largest coal reserves, and the eighth largest oil reserves.
Velasco maintained that Russia and the Philippines may well be good partners in building more sources of energy in the field of natural gas and thermal energy production.
“We are rich in geothermal energy and our seas, we have lots of them, could also be harnessed for thermal energy production,” Velasco said.
In August this year, President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a bill that would lower the cost of electricity in the country.
Co-authored by Velasco in the Lower House, the measure is now Republic Act 11371, or the “Murang Kuryente Act.”
Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta shared Velasco’s view.
Sorreta said Russia is a major player in almost all forms of energy and that there is a need for the country to look for other sources of energy.
“Isa pang napaka importanteng issue that relates to our economy and the welfare of our people ay energy. Ito po ay isang usapin na pag-uusapan, (between Philippines and Russia) with my understanding,” Sorreta said.
“Ang energy costs po natin ay mataas, there is also uncertainty in the world…sometimes may events sa mga lugar kung saan tayo nag source ng energy needs. Kailangan palawakin natin ang mga sources of energy,” Sorreta said.
The chair of the House Committee on Energy said the country is now geared towards cleaner sources of energy and that natural gas and geothermal energy could fuel the country’s electricity requirements.
He said that there are five natural gas plants in the Philippines which, in 2017, provided 22% of the country’s total power demand.
The energy chair said there is a need to develop and find more sources of natural as the Malampaya gas field is expected to hold only until the mid 2020s.
