PBBM supports AboitizPower and JERA push for greener fuels in the Philippines

by Philippine Resources - February 14, 2023

Photo: (seated from left) Senator Mark Villar, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., together with AboitizPower Chairman Sabin Aboitiz and JERA President Satoshi Onoda (standing).

On Friday, February 10, Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), the holding company of power-related investments of the Aboitiz Group, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with JERA Co., Inc. (JERA), Japan’s largest power generation company, to jointly assess the potential for greener fuels. The MOU signing was done in the presence of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. together with key officials from the Philippine Government.

Under the MOU, AboitizPower and JERA commit to collaborative efforts in assessing the feasibility of ammonia co-fired power generation and further development of the ammonia and hydrogen value chains in the Philippines. This will support the decarbonization efforts of AboitizPower and the Philippines, with long-lasting effects that will benefit the entire world.

The MOU was signed by AboitizPower Chairman Sabin Aboitiz and JERA President Satoshi Onoda.

Together with its partners, AboitizPower is the Philippines’ largest owner and operator of renewable energy (RE) based on installed capacity. Through this recent undertaking, AboitizPower continues to lead the country’s transition to a sustainable future with its commitment to the research and generation of renewable energy. Its impact will be felt beyond energy stability and emission reduction, as the collaboration brings about the potential of developing the Philippines as a hub and leader in the region for greener fuels.

“By joining forces in the pursuit of greener fuels, our two companies are not only advancing the cause of sustainability, but also paving the way for a cleaner and more vibrant future. Ammonia offers a compelling solution for decarbonizing the power sector, and by looking into it, we are taking a step towards developing the infrastructure needed to support the ammonia and hydrogen value chains,” said AboitizPower Chairman Sabin Aboitiz.

JERA operates in more than 10 countries with a total portfolio of 80 gigawatts (GW), achieved through its expertise in RE and zero-emission thermal power generation using ammonia and hydrogen. This recent MOU leverages JERA’s wealth of knowledge and experience to effectively fuel the decarbonization and sustainability efforts of AboitizPower and the Philippines. This is in line with JERA’s mission to provide cutting-edge solutions to the world’s energy issues and its vision of being a global leader in LNG and renewables to spark the transition to a clean energy economy.

Around the world, there have been increasing developments in the use of large-scale hydrogen production projects for renewable energy and natural gas. Similar to hydrogen, ammonia is an alternative fuel that does not emit any carbon dioxide when it is burned. As it is easier to handle than liquified hydrogen, it is expected to be used as a hydrogen energy carrier. Through research and development between AboitizPower and JERA, there may be a significant reduction in costs in clean power generation by promoting industrial utilization and building a large-scale value chain.

“JERA is focused on providing cutting-edge solutions to the world’s energy issues and strengthening the value chains for greener fuels such as ammonia and hydrogen. Through this collaboration, we will support Aboitiz's power decarbonization efforts while also considering additional opportunities for advancing technology development in the Philippines. This MOU allows JERA to leverage its experience and capabilities to support both Aboitiz power and the Philippines to reach their emissions targets. We are going to share the Realization of a Low-Carbon Society as a Global Leader Laying the Foundation for the Future of Energy,” said JERA President Satoshi Onoda.

If the technology is applied to existing coal-fired power plants, where appropriate, carbon dioxide emissions may be reduced by up to 50 percent. There will also be a significant economic impact on the Philippine economy with the introduction of these technologies, from the construction of import terminals, storage facilities, power station retrofits, and the like.

As the Aboitiz Group undergoes its Great Transformation to become the Philippines’ first Techglomerate, it is investing in innovation and technology aligned with its sustainability vision.

JERA has been a strategic partner of AboitizPower since 2021, when the Japanese firm fully acquired a 27 percent stake in AboitizPower (which included a 1.99% stake from the Aboitiz family’s privately held parent company, Aboitiz & Company), unlocking international capabilities and expertise. Their partnership is focused on the exploration of new-generation technologies, helping AboitizPower achieve its 10-year renewable energy expansion to increase its capacity by 3,700 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy by 2030.

 

Article courtesy of the Philippine Stock Exchange


Place your Ad Here!


Related Articles

Events

Marcelle P. Villegas - September 01, 2021

The 7th PH-EITI report, industry outlook transparency for oil, gas and mineral resources (Part 1)

The PH-EITI National Conference 2021 was held last July 29 with the theme "Resiliency in Transparency".    PH-EITI or Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, is a government-led, multi-stakeholder initiative that implements EITI. The initiative started on 26 November 2013 under Executive Order No. 147, series of 2013. It is a government commitment first announced through EO No. 79, s. of 2012. The initiative aims to promote the open, accountable management and good governance of oil, gas and mineral resources industries. The three-hour webinar/conference featured various keynote speakers.[1]   “This is the second year that we are holding this meeting online due to the pandemic. This underscores the exceptional circumstance under which we have to operate into the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, I congratulate the EITI for its efforts to organize this national conference and produce an annual report despite all the challenges.” This was part of the Opening Remarks given by Hon. Carlos G. Dominguez, Secretary of Department of Finance.

Industry

Philippine Resources - September 02, 2021

Gov’t gets P1.7-B royalty payment from integrated energy firm

The government, through the Department of Energy (DOE), has received nearly PHP1.7 billion in royalty payment from integrated energy company Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) for the second quarter of the year. In a statement Tuesday, SMPC said this is the highest quarterly royalty payment to the government after the firm recorded a revenue of PHP14.8 billion from April to June 2021. SMPC’s revenue in the second quarter of 2021 was supported by all-time high coal sales and higher average selling prices. Of the PHP1.7 billion turned over to the government, PHP1 billion will go to the national government that can be used to fund programs to fight coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Some PHP666 million will go to local government units (LGUs) that host SMPC mine sites --PHP136 million for the province of Antique, PHP300 million for the municipality of Caluya, and PHP230 million for Barangay Semirara. Under the Local Government Code of 1991, host LGUs of petroleum, coal, geothermal, hydrothermal, and wind facilities shall receive 40 percent of the royalty proceeds. “The pandemic has taken a significant toll on our country. We hope that our contribution can help boost our government’s response against Covid-19,” SMPC president and chief operating officer Maria Cristina Gotianun said. SMPC is the country’s lone power producer that mines its own fuel source --integrating its coal mining and power operations to create a local value chain. Based on its website, SMPC generates 900 megawatts of power with an additional 1,200 MW of coal-fired power in the pipeline.

Industry

Philippine Resources - August 06, 2021

Law Establishing PH Energy Research Institute Inked

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law establishing the Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute to enhance the country’s capability for energy research and policy development. Republic Act 11572, signed by Duterte on July 30, establishes the institute as an independent agency attached to the University of the Philippines (UP) with a separate budget from the premier university. Under the new law, an executive director to head the institute shall be a recognized expert in energy research and policy development with at least three years experience in the energy sector and shall have a strong organizational management background. The executive director, appointed by the UP President upon recommendation of the Executive Board, shall serve in full-time capacity for a term of five years which may be renewed. The institute’s Executive Board shall be composed of seven members comprised of the UP President as the ex-officio chairperson, and at least one representative from the fields of engineering, law, science, statistics, economics, social science, and public health, either from the academe or the private sector. Four members shall come from the academe, two members shall come from the private sector, while each representative shall come from different fields. Other members of the Executive Board shall be chosen by the UP President. Each member shall have a term of three years, which can be renewed for two more terms. The first two appointees from the academe and the first appointee from the private sector shall have a term of two years, which can be renewed for two more terms. The Executive Board may invite the secretaries of various government agencies as well as legitimate consumer and advocacy groups as resource persons during its meetings and deliberations. The institute shall support further education and training for its officers and employees to include advanced degree studies, short-term programs, online courses, and participation in conferences. Research papers, data, and other resources shall be made available to the public through its website. However, proprietary or confidential data and other resources cannot be posted or disclosed unless prior consent of the source or owner of such data and resources has been obtained by the requesting party. A Special Account in the General Fund (SAGP) for energy research, which shall be maintained and managed by the Bureau of Treasury, shall be established to support the research undertaken by the institute. The SAGF for energy research shall recognize and accept grants, contributions, and donations collected for energy research. A total of PHP200 million will be appropriated out of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the initial operating fund of the institute. Such amounts necessary for the sustainable operations of the institute shall be appropriated from the GAA based on the annual financial plan approved by the Executive Board and submitted to the Department of Budget and Management. Government agencies concerned are authorized to include in their respective annual budgets such necessary amounts as their contribution to the funding of certain research activities in the institute. Within 90 calendar days from the effectivity of the act, the UP, in consultation with the members of the academe, and other public and private stakeholders shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations of the act subject to the approval of the UP Board of Regents.

Place your Ad Here!


Recent Articles

Company

Philippine Resources - March 23, 2023

20 Years of Integral: Celebrating Growth and Transformation

Integral, a purveyor of market-leading process control solutions in the Philippines, celebrates its 20th anniversary this 2023. The event, held in EDSA Shangri-La, was attended by the company’s employees, clients, and supply chain partners.   The celebration was a showcase of Integral’s history. But more importantly, it highlighted lessons the company learned as keys to success over the past two decades. As told from the perspective of the founders and employees, the event delivered a playful yet heart-warming glimpse into Integral's journey.

Construction

Philippine Resources - March 23, 2023

PH, Australia partner for technical cooperation for PPP

Photo: Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu PSM. Credit: AusAmbPH Twitter Page As the Marcos administration becomes bullish in utilizing a public-private partnership (PPP) model in infrastructure projects, the Australian government will be providing its technical expertise in rolling out infrastructure projects under the PPP. Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu PSM told the Philippine News Agency in an interview at her residence Wednesday that the embassy will be launching the Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) on March 24. “Infrastructure is a big area that the Philippines is focusing on, and I know President (Ferdinand R.) Marcos (Jr.) has announced that he wants to utilize PPP more where it’s possible. So we are working closely with the Philippine government to share with them how Australia has done it,” Yu said. P4I is an Australian government initiative that brings together experts from the public and private sectors as well as the academe to help Philippine government agencies involved in infrastructure development in the preparation stage of projects that would be under a PPP model. “We can help them with all the project preparation stage. How you do actual cost-benefit analysis of potential projects, and then how you prepare documents for possible procurement, tender processes, and things like that,” the envoy cited. She said that aside from the PPP Center, the P4I also aims to closely work with other agencies including the Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy, the Department of Finance, and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), among others. Yu added that the Australian government will be closely working with the administration through the P4I in meeting its diverse infrastructure requirements, including roads, transport, energy, and public investment management. The Australian envoy said a number of Australian companies have been involved in infrastructure projects in the country. Early this month, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan announced that the NEDA Board approved PHP9 trillion worth of flagship infrastructure projects, with 45 of these projects possibly being funded through PPPs. “The government shall harness the financial and technical resources of the private sector, which allows the public sector to allocate its funds for greater investment in human capital development, especially to address the scarring in health and education due to the pandemic, and provided targeted assistance that protects vulnerable sectors from economic shocks,” Balisacan had said. By Kris Crismundo   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

Construction

Philippine Resources - March 21, 2023

PBBM boosts transport sector thru big-ticket projects

Photo credit: Department of Transportation Several big-ticket infrastructure projects in the transportation sector have been approved or are already being implemented by the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Department of Transportation (DOTr) reported Monday. In a statement, the DOTr said the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit Project, Davao Public Transport Modernization Project, EDSA Greenways, the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) West Extension, and the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension are all ongoing as of March 9 according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). These projects are among the 67 infrastructure flagship projects (IFP) that have been greenlit or are already underway out of the 194 high-impact projects under Marcos’ "Build Better More" program. In the rail sector, these approved and ongoing projects include the Metro Manila Subway Phase 1, Mindanao Rail Phase 1, Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) rehabilitation, Metro Rail Transit Line 4 (MRT-4), Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7), New Cebu International Container Port, New Manila International Airport (Bulacan International Airport), North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Long Haul, and the Subic Clark Railway. The New Dumaguete Airport Development Project (Bacong International Airport) and the Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation (InFRA) Phase 1 have also both been approved by NEDA, with six projects awaiting approval. Last week, the NEDA Board, led by Marcos, approved 194 high-impact priority projects with a total cost of around PHP9 trillion. The board also approved amendments to the 2013 Joint Venture guidelines to support the government’s push for more investments in the country’s infrastructure. PNR suspension Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda has expressed alarm over an impending suspension of select PNR routes due to the NSCR, saying it will affect thousands of commuters, mostly students and workers. “The welfare of the riding public should always be prioritized yet it remains to be seen whether such proposed solutions would effectively and sufficiently address the riding public's urgent demands in time for the imminent suspension of the operations of the PNR,“ Legarda said in her explanatory note on Senate Resolution No. 546. The PNR plans to suspend operations of certain routes for up to five years to facilitate the faster construction of the 55-kilometer NSCR. The construction will start in May and PNR may suspend the routes between Governor Pascual in Malabon City and Calamba City in Laguna, and well as Alabang, Muntinlupa City to Calamba. The Tutuban, Manila-Alabang route will be suspended in October and will affect between 20,000 and 25-000 passengers daily. Legarda urged the Committee on Public Order, chaired by Senator Grace Poe, to look into the impending suspension and come up with alternative solutions.   Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency

Place your Ad Here!

Place your Ad Here!

Join the Philippines'

Mining, Construction and Industry Community

Be the "First" to get our exclusive Digital Magazine & Newsletter.