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LTO-7 on high alert for Holy Week
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO-7) is on high alert starting March 24 to 31, for the Holy Week. The LTO-7 announced their “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa and Summer Vacation 2024” in a press release last Friday. Director Glen Galario has instructed all LTO-7 district and extension offices.....»»
India urges investment in coal-fired power plants - Reuters
The use of the fossil fuel is crucial due to surging demand for energy The Indian government has asked private companies to boost investments in new coal-fired power plants to meet the country's growing demand for energy, Reuters reported on Tuesday. Power Minister Raj Kumar Singh held a meeting with private fi.....»»
LPG Expo to tackle industry trends
As industries and nations across the globe find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, liquified petroleum gas is likely to gain attention as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels. All data show LPG emits lower amounts of carbon dioxide than diesel and coal, making it a better option for transportation, cooking, and power generation. To explore the ever-evolving world of LPG, the Liquified Petroleum Gas Industry Association, the Liquified Petroleum Gas Marketers Association, the World LPG Association, and several regional associations will host the 4th Asia Pacific LPG Expo is set to make waves in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas from 10-11 October 2023 at the Marriott Hotel. With a diverse lineup of over 30 international and local companies exhibiting, the Asia Pacific LPG Expo continues to be the cornerstone for LPG professionals and industry enthusiasts, offering an invaluable platform to connect, learn, and explore the ever-evolving world of LPG. It is the gateway for esteemed international and local LPG companies to showcase their industry-leading practices and cutting-edge products and services. Beyond the expansive exhibition, the Expo hosts a dynamic conference featuring influential figures in the LPG industry and government representatives who will deliver insightful presentations on policy frameworks, safety standards, cutting-edge technologies, market trends, and investment prospects. These discussions will be led by renowned industry experts and innovators, providing attendees a competitive edge in navigating the dynamic LPG landscape. Local stakeholders and regulators such as former Congressman Arnel Ty from the LPGMA, Mercedita Pastrana from the LPGIA, director Rino E. Abad from the Department of Energy, and director Neil P.Catajay from the Department of Trade and Industry will be on site to share and discuss in details the on the latest regulations. Representatives from the various leading LPG Companies in the Philippines will also present to share more about the landscape of the local LPG industry. Be part of this momentous occasion at the esteemed Marriott Grand Ballroom Convention Center and attend with the participation of thousands of local and international delegates, along with government representatives and distinguished LPG professionals. Experience an event that will redefine the trajectory of the LPG industry in Asia Pacific. Secure your spot today and embark on a journey of limitless possibilities. The post LPG Expo to tackle industry trends appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UN chief convenes ‘no nonsense’ climate summit, without China or US
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set Wednesday to host a climate meeting marred at its outset by the absence of speakers from the world's top two emitters, China and the United States. Despite increasing extreme weather events and record-shattering global temperatures, greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise and fossil fuel companies reap handsome profits. Guterres has thus billed the "Climate Ambition Summit" as a "no nonsense" forum where leaders or cabinet ministers will announce specific actions that deliver on their commitments under the Paris Agreement. The bar for making the podium was set high, with the UN chief making clear that only leaders who had made concrete plans to achieve net-zero greenhouse emissions would be allowed to speak. After receiving more than 100 applications to take part, the UN finally released a list on Tuesday night of 41 speakers which did not include China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan or India. "Tomorrow, I will welcome credible first movers and doers to our Climate Ambition Summit," Guterres said Tuesday. Several major leaders didn't bother making the trip to New York for this year's UN General Assembly, including President Xi Jinping of China and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak from the United Kingdom, who said he was too busy. US President Joe Biden, who addressed the General Assembly on Tuesday, sent his climate envoy John Kerry to the meeting -- though Kerry won't be permitted to speak. "There's no doubt that the absence of so many leaders from the world's biggest economies and emitters will clearly have an impact on the outcomes of the summit," Alden Meyer of climate think tank E3G said. He blamed competing issues -- from the Ukraine conflict to US-China tensions and rising economic uncertainty. "But I think it's also the opposition in many of these countries from the fossil fuel industry and other powerful interests to the kind of transformational changes that are needed," said Meyer. Catherine Abreu, executive director of nonprofit Destination Zero, said it was "perhaps a good-news story that we see Biden not being given a speaking slot at the summit" because the United States is continuing to expand fossil fuel projects even as it makes historic investments in renewables. "I think about this as being a correction from past summits, where leaders have been given the opportunity to take credit for climate leadership on the global stage, while they continue to pursue plans to develop fossil fuels, and continue driving the climate crisis back at home," she added. While the United States won't take the rostrum, California will be represented by Governor Gavin Newsom. From Britain, London Mayor Sadiq Khan will also attend. Growing anger The event is the biggest climate summit in New York since 2019, when Greta Thunberg stunned the world with her "How Dare You" speech before the UN. Anger is building among climate activists, particularly younger people, who turned out in thousands last weekend for the "March to End Fossil Fuels" in New York. Observers are eager however to see what Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European Union President Ursula von der Leyen say both on their own goals and on financing commitments for the developing world. The failure of advanced economies, responsible for the majority of historic emissions, to honor their promises to the worst affected lower-income nations has long been a sore point in climate talks. There are some bright spots, including the announcement that Colombia and Panama are joining a grouping called the Powering Past Coal Alliance -- particularly notable as Colombia is the world's sixth biggest coal exporter. Wednesday's summit comes weeks ahead of the COP28 climate talks in the United Arab Emirates, where goals include tripling renewable energy by 2030, and ending by 2050 the generation of fossil fuel energy that isn't "abated" by carbon capture technology. The post UN chief convenes ‘no nonsense’ climate summit, without China or US appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Indonesia sanctions 11 industrial firms over Jakarta pollution spikes
Indonesia has sanctioned 11 industrial firms for failing to meet operational standards as the government moves to deal with major pollution spikes in the capital Jakarta, the environment minister said Monday. Air pollution levels in the megalopolis of about 30 million people have risen to some of the highest in the world in recent months, topping global rankings multiple times since the beginning of August, according to Swiss air monitor IQAir. The government had blamed weather patterns and vehicle emissions for the spike but some ministers have recently acknowledged coal-fired power plants and factories around the capital were also partly responsible. "We have imposed administrative sanctions on 11 entities," Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar told a news conference, without identifying the firms. "This means that based on inspections, we have identified areas where they don't meet the standards, and they are required to rectify these issues." She said the sanctioned firms were coal stockpiling, smelting, paper and charcoal companies. The administrative sanctions were not outlined. The action came on the same day that President Joko Widodo inaugurated Jakarta's first elevated light railway line, which he said would alleviate chronic traffic and help reduce pollution. The Light Rail Transit will link central Jakarta to surrounding satellite cities such as Bekasi. Widodo said in a cabinet meeting last week that the long dry season, vehicle emissions and industrial activities were all factors in the pollution spike. In another move to improve the city's air quality, the Jakarta administration has ordered half its civil servants to work from home in a two-month trial that started last week. Jakarta officials have stressed that no public services would be affected by the trial, emphasizing that only non-essential government workers can work from home. The post Indonesia sanctions 11 industrial firms over Jakarta pollution spikes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Study shows rising RE project interest
The local renewable energy sector is expected to further grow as more high-value investors have signified their interest to finance the sector’s development. According to a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis or IEEFA titled “Business Model Innovations Drive the Philippines Energy Transition,” the notably aggressive plans of both the government and the private sector caught foreign investors’ attention. “In terms of how investors view asset values, pure play renewables companies command a valuation premium over utilities having lower levels of renewables in their mix,” Ramnath Iyer, report author and IEEFA’s Climate and Renewable Energy Finance Lead, Asia, said. “Valuation premiums for pure-play renewables companies — as seen in their higher price-to-book ratios, the stronger market valuation of installed capacity, and stock performance over the past five years — suggest that this focus on renewables as a concentrated strategy has paid off.” The report presented the Philippines as home to innovative models in the renewable energy space. The study also highlighted the growing list of the country’s listed renewables developers and operators, including ACEN Corp., Citicore Energy REIT Corp. or CREIT, and Solar Philippines. The IEEFA study particularly noted that investors are willing to reward firms that plan to grow in the field of renewables and can execute their plans, the report finds. Each MW counts For instance, investors value each megawatt or MW of installed capacity at ACEN at P137 million based on the market capitalization and megawatts in operation as of 4 August, and CREIT at P102 million per MW. Meanwhile, non-pure plays First Gen Corporation and Aboitiz Power are valued at only P26.7 million per MW and P73.7 million per MW, respectively. As such, it was notable that both Solar Philippines and ACEN have received significantly higher investor support compared to First Gen and Aboitiz Power, which have underperformed even broader equity benchmarks. Despite this, First Gen had shown a willingness to explore innovative options. To raise capital for growth in renewables, it has a successful track record of partnering with international investors and infrastructure players. Meanwhile, Aboitiz Power remains more heavily geared to coal in the medium term, which makes up more than 60 percent of its mix, and also has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.1 (net) and 1.5 (gross). “Laggards, who stick with fossil fuel assets as their main line of business, will likely continue to see ebbing interest among investors and financial markets unless they can change and adopt some of the more successful strategies,” Iyers noted. Based on the targets set by the DoE, the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix should increase to 35 percent by 2035 and 50 percent by 2040. However, it is still notable that despite an aggressive stance on clean energy utilization, the Philippines still heavily rely on coal. Coal, which is cheaper compared to other forms of power but more detrimental to the environment, is still the highest contributor to the power generation mix at nearly 60 percent. Renewable energy only takes a little over 20 percent of the mix as of end-2022. The post Study shows rising RE project interest appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Forked-tongue promises
Commitment to transparency is among the qualities of a corporation that investors and the public look at before making the crucial decision to either infuse some capital into it or buy its products. Power companies have the bigger responsibility for disclosures during the difficult period of rising prices, coupled with the global effort to save the earth from climate catastrophe as a result of greenhouse gases. In 2017, a movement among global big businesses for full disclosure of their projects that may impact the environment called Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, or TCFD, was launched. Since then, the country’s biggest corporations have signed up to the global transparency movement but not San Miguel Corp. Instead, SMC said in its annual report that it “developed a comprehensive, standardized data template to capture pertinent data and disclosures on our material ESG topics from our various subsidiaries,” without actually signing up for the global accord. Among companies engaged in power generation, SMC also lags in terms of its climate commitments. Think tank Center for Energy, Ecology and Development said in 2019 that First Gen of the Lopez Group announced it will “lead the transition to a decarbonized energy system in line with the United Nations target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.” SMC, which now dominates energy production through fossil fuel, also has not made any commitments to align with the 1.5°C Paris temperature goal. CEED said that unlike some of the biggest conglomerates in the country, SMC has yet to indicate unqualified support for TCFD. The body was created to develop recommendations on the types of information that should be disclosed by corporations to support investors, lenders and insurance underwriters in appropriately assessing and pricing a specific set of risks related to climate change. The Aboitiz Group, through its holding company Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., was the first local supporter of TCFD. The global movement said on its online site that companies that express support for TCFD recommendations “join a cohort of leading companies that take action against climate change and are thoughtful to consider how climate change will impact their businesses.” “Easing transparency makes markets more efficient, and economies more stable and resilient,” Michael Bloomberg, TCFD chairperson said. According to CEED, the disclosure of climate risks in key private undertakings would guide SMC and its shareholders in making informed choices in “an increasingly carbon-constrained world.” It added that the value of climate-disclosure information and SMC’s plans for a low-carbon economy are becoming increasingly valuable for stakeholders. SMC, by the way, has major shareholders affiliated with the Catholic Church that have kept silent amid the reluctance of the Asian giant for full disclosure. Church groups, ironically, have been calling for action and accountability from financial institutions, energy and extractive companies, and government leaders to contribute to efforts to save the planet. In July 2021, SMC announced plans to move away from building new coal facilities, including those that use “clean technology,” and move towards clean energy. SMC, however, never discloses which power plant projects will be dropped except for three projects in Quezon and Cebu that have total capacities of 1,500 megawatts. CEED said data from the DoE from July 2020 showed plans for new coal-fired power plants with a total capacity of 3,628 MW until a moratorium imposed by the Department of Energy disrupted these plans. SMC also stated that it is aggressively pursuing more sustainable sources of energy which include expensive liquefied natural gas. The duplicity is very apparent since the company’s environmental commitments clash with its actual program to dominate power generation through imported fossil fuel. The post Forked-tongue promises appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Reforms hijacked
In the Electricity Power Industry Reform Act, or Epira, the guiding principle is the least cost of power for consumers which was effectively pursued through the competitive selection process which was made permanent in the industry during the previous administration. Meralco, the power distributor, introduced the straight pricing scheme in the power supply agreements or the contracts it bids out to prevent fluctuations in electricity prices due to factors beyond the control of the generating companies, or gencos, such as spikes in fuel prices as a result of geopolitical shifts. The presumption on those who will participate in the bid for the fixed price PSAs is that they will shoulder the risks and it will be up to them to hedge or undertake measures to address upswings in costs. That was the arrangement in the PSAs with San Miguel Corp.’s gencos, Sual coal and Ilijan natural gas plants. When the price of coal surged after the conflict between Russia and Ukraine erupted, and Malampaya started to restrict supply as it was being depleted, SMC complained of piling losses to the extent of P15 billion. Stakeholders, however, said much of the ordeal of SMC in their claimed accumulated debts was self-inflicted due to poor decisions. According to a representative of a consumer group, SMC never showed proof of the losses it cited, which in turn became the basis for its petitions for price adjustments with the ERC. In October last year, the ERC dismissed the petitions of SMC and instead directed the company to fulfill its commitments in the PSA. The spurned SMC went directly to the Court of Appeals, or CA, to contest the ERC ruling instead of filing a motion for reconsideration with the regulator. Promptly, the CA issued a temporary restraining order which last month was upgraded to a permanent injunction that bars ERC from enforcing its quasi-judicial authority on SMC. SMC, with the use of the court orders, unilaterally terminated its PSA with Meralco. Since it dominated the power sector anyway, it obtained new cheaper contracts through the emergency PSAs bid out by Meralco. SMC, thus, succeeded in getting what it wanted through the injunction power of the CA. Consumer groups opposed to the rate increases that would result after SMC was freed from its contracts without any consequence branded the maneuver as SMC’s way of “ultimately hijacking power purchase bidding systems that are in place to protect consumers.” The oppositor in the ERC case, Power for the People, deplored the way SMC won the deal to supply the same power requirement of Meralco for the shortage that it itself had caused. “The spirit of competitive selection and least-cost electricity goes out of the window when companies like SMC are allowed to pull tricks like this,” P4P convenor Gerry Arances said. P4P filed a motion for reconsideration of the CA’s injunction order. The consumer coalition was the only one left on the list of oppositors that had questioned SMC’s “temporary” price adjustment petitions with ERC. The others had dropped out, including the main complainant, for reasons they only knew. “We are disappointed but not surprised at how the CA yielded to the arm-twisting of SMC so that it could hike prices and turn its back on its contracts. The decision will open the floodgates to higher electricity, as SMC and other fossil fuel power generators are now emboldened to ask for more rate hikes, and to participate and win auctions through bid prices far lower than what consumers will eventually be charged, knowing they can apply for and possibly secure price adjustments during their contracts’ lifetime,” Arances said. ERC voiced the same apprehension in rejecting the SMC petitions, saying others hold the same straight-pricing PSAs but never sought a revision in the terms of their contracts. Failed business decisions such as bidding too low just to obtain the PSAs should be the lookout and the burden of the contractor and not the electricity users who should be spared from paying for the consequences of bad business decisions. Besides, SMC as the holder of the contracts should have been penalized with the proceeds from which used to ease the plight of consumers amid the high price of electricity. The post Reforms hijacked appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Groups file MR vs SMC injunction
Consumer groups are not letting up on San Miguel Corp. as they filed a motion for reconsideration before the Court of Appeals, or CA, concerning its decision allowing the Asian giant to pass additional costs from two of its power contracts to consumers. In July, the CA overturned an earlier order by the Energy Regulatory Commission, or ERC, that denied SMC and Meralco’s rate hike and instructed two SMC power units — a coal plant in Sual, Pangasinan, and a gas power plant in Batangas — to honor their straight-priced power contracts. The ERC order blocked SMC from forcing consumers to shoulder fossil fuel volatility costs which it committed initially to absorbing. “We are disappointed but not surprised at how the Court of Appeals yielded to the arm-twisting of SMC so that they can hike prices and turn back on its contracts,” Gerry Arances, convenor of the Power for People, or P4P. coalition, said. Arances added the CA decision will open the floodgates to higher electricity, as SMC and other fossil fuel power generators are now emboldened to ask for more rate hikes, and to participate and win auctions through bid prices far lower than what consumers will eventually be charged knowing they can apply for and possibly secure price adjustments during their contracts’ lifetime Big blow to consumers Lawyer Luke Espiritu, legal counsel of P4P and president of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, a member-organization of P4P, said that the CA’s move is a big blow to consumers as its decision negates the straight-pricing contracts that cushion electricity consumers from market volatility. “All straight-price contracts, 23 by our count, are now at risk for price adjustment. We are now at the mercy of power companies who have the freedom to trick us into committing to a contract, only to back down when it is no longer profitable for them. Once again consumers are held hostage in this situation where they have no choice but to pay higher prices,” Espiritu said. The group also referred to the recent State of the Nation Address, saying that the CA’s decision goes against President Marcos’ goal of achieving “competitive pricing of electricity throughout the country.” The repercussions of the decision are already playing out, P4P said, with Meralco announcing just this week that San Miguel’s SMEC already issued its notice of termination, but that it was also San Miguel’s SPPC that offered a replacement capacity for a resulting Emergency Power Supply Agreement, or EPSA. “This is SMC ultimately hijacking power purchase bidding systems that are in place to protect consumers. We can only wonder where it pulls out its audacity to bid for the same power requirement shortage of Meralco that it itself caused. The spirit of competitive selection and least-cost electricity goes out of the window when companies like SMC are allowed to pull tricks like these,” Arances said. The post Groups file MR vs SMC injunction appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dirty brew
Harmony with the communities where San Miguel Corp. — which gained fame for its renowned beer — has put up its energy plants is not what the company is projecting, as most plants have been the subject of massive complaints from residents. According to a survey by think-tank Center for Energy, Ecology and Development, most of the complaints are related to the effects on the environment of the projects. For instance, in 2017, communities and civil society organizations launched the Break Free 2017 campaign to oppose the expansion of fossil fuel industries at the project site of SMC’s Limay Coal Power Plant. Residents of Limay, Bataan complained of being exposed to the emissions of the then 300-megawatt, or MW, coal plant and the 140-MW plant of the Petron Bataan Fuel Refinery. The groups’ claim that the plant’s testing operations may have resulted in ash spills was found to be accurate by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which issued a Cease and Desist Order. Before SMC acquired the Masinloc power plant in 2018, the plant was already subjected to opposition, which led to delays in its operation during the 1990s. Environmentalists, farmers, and fishermen at the time staged protests, claiming that contaminated water from the plant would reduce the fish catch. The Masinloc power plant was then owned and operated by state firm National Power Corp. and was billed as the solution to the long brownouts that Luzon suffered daily. Using his emergency powers, then-President Fidel Ramos endorsed the quick construction of the project, displacing over 1,000 individuals in the process. It was then discovered that the plant produced over 385,000 tons of ash yearly, putting local communities’ health at risk. The previous owners of the Masinloc power plant claimed to have spent over $1 billion for its realignment to make it more environmentally friendly. SMC considered the power asset as allowing them to increase their footprint in clean coal technology. There were then also complaints from residents whom CEED said were directly impacted by some of SMCGP’s coal power plants. The residents alleged harassment and intimidation by various individuals for them to give up their properties. In 2016, SMCGP proposed to construct and operate its Limay Power Station in Limay, Bataan. A portion of the power plant site was thereafter fenced off by private individuals who claimed to have sold the property, and people were prohibited from entering or accessing the crops they had planted in the area. The situation was the same in Sariaya, Quezon in 2018, after SMCGP proposed the construction of a circulating fluidized bed coal-fired power plant in the municipality. In Mariveles, Bataan, where SMC’s Mariveles coal-fired power plant units 1 to 4 will rise, residents found themselves ousted from the property they were living on, through rights, at the peak of the Covid-19 lockdowns by alleged landowners claiming the property had been sold. SMC’s mining business is also facing its fair share of opposition. Its Daguma Agro Minerals Inc., or DAMI, was granted a coal development and production operating contract in South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat by the Department of Energy back in 2002. The contract included the 17,000 hectares of collective land that the SMC mining companies planned to explore. San Miguel Energy Corp. acquired full ownership of DAMI, which was owned by a group headed by businessman Ben Guingona. DAMI has coal mines in South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, in areas known for being rich in mineral deposits. DAMI’s projects in South Cotabato were opposed by environmental advocates, the local Catholic diocese, and the host communities, due to environmental and encroachment concerns. DAMI uses the strip mining method, a form of open-pit mining that is forbidden by South Cotabato’s 2010 environment code. The provincial board of South Cotabato rejected a resolution that would have endorsed DAMI’s mining operations since it violated South Cotabato’s ban on open-pit mining. The provincial board, however, moved to amend the code and lift the ban. Local officials are now under fire as they kept residents unaware of SMC’s tree-clearing operations. South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., in response, vetoed the lifting of the ban on open-pit mining. The classic sound bite of the company of leaving no one behind is hard to discern from the way SMC treats communities it considers as getting in the way of its massive projects. The post Dirty brew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Render unto Ceasar
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ plenary assembly in 2022 said the Roman Catholic Church will divest from banks and projects that are involved in fossil fuels as part of its contribution to the movement for clean energy. The warning showed the financial muscle through its corporate shares that the bishops can muster to influence the realm of business. In a pastoral letter, the CBCP said it will use its shareholdings in domestic banks to demand policies and plans to “phase out their exposure to coal, fossil gas, and destructive energy in line with the 1.5°C ambition.” “Without clear commitments and policies from these banks to divest from fossil fuels, we commit to withdraw all our resources that are with them not later than 2025, and hold them accountable to their fiduciary duties and moral obligations as climate actors,” read the pastoral letter. In its latest pastoral letter about the “climate emergency” last March, however, the Church bravado has dissipated and instead has been replaced by a warning that it will enforce the “CBCP-initiated non-acceptance policy of donations of whatever kind, from owners or operators and any representative of extractive companies regardless of the scale of operation.” The new position is oceans apart from the earlier encompassing threat to divest from all dirty energy projects and their financiers. Such flip-flops have been the impediment of the Church in exerting its supposed moral guidance in what the Bible says is Caesar’s domain. The Catholic Church is heavily invested in the biggest corporations in the country. In San Miguel Corporation, for instance, the list of its top 100 shareholders shows more than P600 million in investments from Church-affiliated entities. The Archbishop of Manila is currently listed as the fifth largest shareholder in one of the biggest lenders in the country, which is a huge provider of loans to energy projects, with 62 percent of its energy portfolio comprising coal. The bank’s exposure to coal projects is estimated at $444.82 million. The archbishops of archdioceses in Jaro, Iloilo, and Zamboanga are also major stockholders of the bank. The Manila archdiocese is also among the top shareholders in a giant mining firm through shares worth more than P66 million. It also has huge capital as a supplier of construction materials. When the Catholic Church appealed for donations for the renovation of the Manila Cathedral in 2013, top corporation SMC came to its aid with P50 million while Metrobank donated P20 million. In no time at all, the P136-million project was funded. Regarding donations, in 2011, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office named a priest and several Catholic bishops who received sports utility vehicles funded through the agency’s charity fund. The PCSO revelation sparked a Senate investigation and the bishops agreed to surrender the vehicles. A Commission on Audit report said the grant of the five vehicles amounting to P7 million violated the constitutional provision that “no public money or property shall be appropriated, applied or employed directly or indirectly, for the use of, benefit or support to any sect, church, denomination… except when such priest, preacher or dignitary is assigned to the Armed Forces or any penal institution, or government orphanage or leprosarium.” During a Senate investigation on the controversy, PCSO director Aleta Tolentino revealed that a bishop asked for a car as a birthday gift but used the welfare of the poor as an excuse. During the inquiry, Tolentino said, “We are not against the Church. We are just denouncing what happened in the past — corruption of government funds, which is prohibited by the Constitution itself.” “Would the bishops rather that we keep mum or lie about it? Would they want us to just keep quiet about this?” she added. With its heavily compromised state as a result of its financial involvement, the Church has abandoned its role as a conscience of society in the pursuit of uplifting the lives of Filipinos. The post Render unto Ceasar appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Games SMC plays
Manipulating the system, using its sheer dominance of the electricity industry with the huge generating capacity at its disposal, has long been suspected of business giant San Miguel Corp. Think tank Center for Energy, Ecology and Development or CEED found instances in 2021 of unplanned power outages during the peak summer demand periods where SMC appeared to have generated maximum markups. Monitoring by the group showed that between 31 May and 6 June 2021, the Ilijan plant owned by SMC unit South Premiere Power Corp. experienced a supply shortfall that was augmented through the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market by SMC units Ilijan, the SMC Limay coal-fired power plant, and the Masinloc coal-fired plant. Later, between 12 and 18 July, Luzon was hit by yellow and red alerts due to another Ilijan failure. To its rescue came the same three SMC subsidiaries. When SMC Limay had a derating, Meralco bought electricity from SMC Limay and Masinloc through the spot market. The price at WESM, during a red or yellow alert, spikes which mean bigger returns for the suppliers and higher monthly electricity bills. According to CEED, in early 2022, the first of several outages occurred as six coal-fired power plants and one hydropower plant underwent simultaneous forced outages. At the same time, three coal-fired power plants and one gas-fired power plant derated their capacities on 26 March 2022. The electricity network operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines declared a yellow alert after 2,834 megawatts, or MW, were removed from the Luzon Grid. The most recent occurrence of outages was a red alert declared in Luzon by the NGCP last 8 May as two units of Masinloc Power Plant with a combined capacity of 659 MW went on a forced outage. The Masinloc coal plant, according to CEED, underwent unplanned outages seven times; the Limay coal power plant and cogeneration power plant twelve times; and the Sual coal plant counted 10 disruptions. Allegations of gaming thus arise, which the think tank said cannot be overlooked, “as major power players such as SMC continue to report soaring net incomes despite their power generation assets going on unplanned outages regularly.” A deep dive into the outages data showed that there were several power players whose power plants underwent outages or deratings, while their sister companies supplied electricity to the WESM during the same period. According to the CEED, the generation companies that contributed to the effective supply of WESM during the series of yellow and red alerts were sister companies of the power plants that had caused the alerts in the first place. The same gaming allegations were brought against SMC regarding the bidding for Meralco contracts. Two SMC units, SPPC, and San Miguel Energy Corp. offered very low bids for straight pricing contracts of Meralco which were designed to prevent sudden increases in electricity rates. Three years into the 10-year contract, SMC sought a revision of the terms with the Energy Regulatory Commission, or ERC, citing an increase in international coal prices and supply restrictions in the depleted Malampaya natural gas field. ERC turned down the SMC petitions and directed the company’s units to follow the terms of its contracts. SMC did not ask for reconsideration but instead went to the Court of Appeals where it promptly obtained a temporary restraining order which was progressively upgraded to a permanent injunction that stopped ERC from implementing its decision. In short, SMC got what it wanted through the Court injunction that threw away the regulator’s ruling and disregarded its quasi-judicial function. Using its vast influence, SMC was able to tear up contracts that it did not like without suffering any consequences. That’s what absolute big business power can do, to the extent of destroying government institutions. The post Games SMC plays appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Safer, stronger communities with AboitizPower’s mangrove projects
As communities feel the effects of a warming world, the importance of propagating and protecting mangroves stand out in the efforts to mitigate carbon emissions buildup. While already being able to sequester three to five times more carbon than forest trees, mangroves also do a lot more, serving as a habitat for various species in coastal ecosystems — hence, sustaining the livelihoods of fisherfolk — and as a protector of vulnerable communities against erosion and storm surges. In celebration of the International Day for Conservation of Mangroves, Aboitiz Power Corporation recognizes the tremendous importance of mangroves, as well as the exemplary efforts of its business units and stakeholders in helping conserve and restore mangrove forests in their communities. Quarterly collaborations In Maco, Davao de Oro, AboitizPower subsidiary Therma Marine, Inc. celebrated Philippine Environmental Month last June with another one of its quarterly collaborations with the public sector and civil society organizations in cleaning the coast and planting mangroves within its vicinity. “The first mangrove tree planting and clean-up drive took place in 2019, and since then, it has become a recurring event for TMI,” said TMI safety, health and environment supervisor Chrisyl Garcia. “By organizing these activities on a regular basis, TMI is able to contribute to the restoration of mangrove habitats and the overall well-being of coastal ecosystems.” “By conducting these events, TMI aims to raise awareness about the importance of mangroves and engage community members, volunteers, and employees in hands-on conservation efforts. The initiative has likely fostered a sense of environmental responsibility among participants,” she added. On that single June day, a total of 110 kilograms of residual waste were collected, while 550 mangrove seedlings were planted. Over the years, TMI's mangrove-planting and clean-up drive has consistently gained momentum, with increased participation from volunteers from the Diocese of Maco, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine National Police, the 1001st Brigade, the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office and local private company Gas Island Petroleum Corp. “These stakeholders have played a crucial role in leading discussions on how to effectively plant the mangroves. Their expertise and experience have been invaluable in guiding the participants on the proper techniques and methods of planting mangrove saplings. They share their knowledge about the ideal planting locations, appropriate species selection, and necessary care and maintenance practices for the newly planted mangroves,” Garcia said. This collaboration has enhanced the success and impact of TMI's mangrove-planting and clean-up drives, ensuring that the activities are conducted in a well-informed and efficient manner. “Overall, the consistent involvement of volunteers and leaders in discussing mangrove planting techniques underscores the collective effort and shared commitment towards the preservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems,” said Garcia. [caption id="attachment_162206" align="aligncenter" width="1536"] Volunteers from public, private and civil society organizations work together at TMI, not just in planting mangroves, but also in fostering strong partnerships and creating a platform for knowledge exchange and shared responsibility in mangrove conservation.[/caption] Adopt-a-mangrove Meanwhile, in Mariveles, Bataan, GNPower Mariveles Energy Center Ltd. Co. kickstarted its own efforts in mangrove conservation by signing a memorandum of agreement with development partners for an estimated P7-million “5 Hectares Orani Mangrove Adoption and Protection Project” that is expected to start implementation in September. Under the MOA, GMEC partnered with the provincial government of Bataan, the municipality of Orani, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Tubo-tubo Fisherfolks Association to improve the existing conditions of the mangrove areas in the allotted five hectares for a period of five years, subject to possible renewal. “Through this initiative, we envision to improve the existing conditions of the mangrove areas in the province of Bataan, starting in the municipality of Orani,” said GMEC associate vice president for community relations Arcel Madrid. “Adopting a mangrove site is vital for coal-fired power plant companies like GMEC because mangrove forests play a significant role in mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration.” “With these efforts, GMEC will also help uplift the lives of our community partner, the Tubo-tubo Fisherfolks Association, by providing a sustainable fishing ground and viable alternative livelihood to improve their socio-economic status,” he added. In the longer run, GMEC looks forward to more mangrove site adoption projects and other corporate social responsibility endeavors that are aligned with local and national development goals. [caption id="attachment_162207" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Representatives from GMEC, the Provincial Government of Bataan, the Municipality of Orani, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Tubo-tubo Fisherfolks Association sign an MOA on mangrove adoption and protection.[/caption] Coastal stronghold At the coastal area of Punta Dumalag, Davao, the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park stands as a sanctuary, not just of pawikan (turtles) and rare bird species, but also of mangrove biodiversity. “It’s unbelievable how [the] Aboitiz [Foundation] has developed Punta Dumalag Cleanergy Park to what it is today,” said frequent visitor Cyra Quilaneta of Junior Chamber International Davaoeña Daba-Daba. “The highlight for us [in visiting the park] is the education and experience it provides our members and their guests, especially the youth. We get to appreciate the importance of mangroves by seeing its functions personally — trapping [coastal] trashes and [supporting] turtle hatcheries.” The team at AboitizPower distribution unit Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. spearhead the activities at the Cleanergy Park, which include educating students and guests by hosting tours, as well as assisting them with mangrove-planting. “JCI Davaoeña Daba-Daba, together with JCI Davao, is an organization that supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly #14: Life Below Water. By protecting and restoring mangroves, we contribute to overall sustainable development,” Cyra said. To date, 18,138 mangroves have been planted at the Cleanergy Park. However, several natural and man-made factors have rendered its survival rate at only 30 percent. “While [the] Aboitiz Foundation and its partners have made commendable strides in mangrove protection, the task is far from complete. Mangrove protection requires collective effort to be effective. Mangroves face numerous threats, including habitat loss, climate change impacts, pollution, and unsustainable resource extraction,” Cyra explained. “To ensure the long-term viability of mangrove ecosystems, ongoing efforts are necessary. Continuous awareness, education and action of more groups and organizations is crucial.” “Sustainability remains at the core of AboitizPower and our business units have concretized this through their efforts in caring for mangrove ecosystems and the wider environment,” said AboitizPower president and CEO Manny Rubio. “I commend our team members for helping harness the collective efforts of the company, various partners and host communities in bringing us closer to our aspiration of a better and cleaner tomorrow.” The post Safer, stronger communities with AboitizPower’s mangrove projects appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AMID CA ‘OVERREACH’ ERC ready for battle
The Energy Regulatory Commission is ready to contest before the Supreme Court the decision of the Court of Appeals voiding the regulator’s rejection of the rate increase petitions of two San Miguel Corporation power generation firms. Legal pundits said the CA usurped the ERC’s authority in its ruling setting aside the regulator’s late 2022 decisions to dismiss the petitions of South Premiere Power Corp. and San Miguel Energy Corp. to increase prices. Others called the CA decision an “overreach.” The two San Miguel subsidiaries cited a “change in circumstances” for turning their backs on their fixed-priced contracts with Manila Electric Company. San Miguel disclosed on Wednesday to the Philippine Stock Exchange the favorable decision it had received from the CA’s 13th Division composed of Associate Justice Victoria Isabel Paredes, as chairperson; and Associate Justices Mary Charlene Hernandez-Azura and Florencio Mamauag Jr., as members. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, ERC chairperson lawyer Monalisa Dimalanta clarified that the CA’s decision was not yet final since, under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, only the Supreme Court can issue a permanent injunction on rate hikes. “There is no computation yet of the rate hikes. The decision is not yet final, and we will still file a motion for reconsideration. If granted, that’s another discussion. If denied, we will go all the way to the Supreme Court. I have not yet foreseen any rate impact,” Dimalanta said. Dimalanta added that the ERC, through the Office of the Solicitor General, will need to confirm if the CA is legally allowed to issue a final decision on rate hikes. “The CA can review any factual matter related to any rate hike petition, but we still want to clarify if the CA can decide with finality because it will change everything in the (power) industry. Under the EPIRA, only the SC can issue a permanent injunction,” Dimalanta explained. Unfortunate ruling According to Dimalanta, the CA’s decision was “unfortunate and disconcerting,” but the ERC will continue to uphold the law to “protect consumers.” “The ERC hopes the CA will revisit the records of the case as well as the arguments of the parties and uphold the commission’s ruling,” the ERC chief said. Consumers will not yet feel any adverse impact from the CA’s reversal of the ERC’s rejection of the temporary rate hike petitions, Dimalanta added. However, for San Miguel Global Power or SMGP, the holding firm for SMC’s power ventures, the CA’s decision “upholds the constitutional mandate of due process that guarantees the right to be treated fairly and effectively by quasi-judicial bodies like the ERC.” “It is regrettable that the ERC’s unfair decision early on to reject our joint petition with Meralco for a temporary rate hike — despite proving to be the least cost option at the time for power consumers — resulted in consumers shouldering the burden of much higher electricity rates,” SMGP said in a separate statement on Thursday. Nonetheless, the company said it still looks to “forge even stronger partnerships with the government, consumers, and other key stakeholders to help shape a more resilient and sustainable energy landscape for all.” Meanwhile, Meralco Head of Regulatory Management Jose Ronald Valles said the company will reach out to the CA to clarify some matters regarding the decision. “There are some matters in the decision that we feel need to be clarified. We are consulting with our lawyers on the legal remedies available to us, including an appeal to the Supreme Court,” Valles said. The 13th Division of the CA reversed the order of the ERC that rejected the temporary power rate hike petition filed by San Miguel Energy Corp. or SMEC and South Premiere Power Corp. or SPPC and Meralco. The CA decision granted the consolidated petitions for certiorari filed by SMEC and SPPC. It also favored the joint motion of SPPC and SMEC for a price adjustment with provisional authority and/or interim relief in ERC Case No. 2019-081 and ERC Case No. 2019-083. Likewise, the appellate court made permanent the preliminary injunction issued in favor of SPPC. The rate hike petition stemmed from SMGP’s report that its Sual Coal and Ilijan Natural Gas power facilities logged combined losses of P15 billion from 2021 to date due to high prices. As such, it sought temporary and partial cost recovery relief only for the losses it incurred from January to May, through a power rate increase on its contract capacity under the power supply agreement with Meralco to be amortized for six months. CA gets flak Consumer group Power for People Coalition criticized the CA magistrates for favoring the Ramon Ang-led San Miguel Corporation. “The Court of Appeals is supposed to uphold the interests of justice and the people, but it failed to do both in its decision granting SMC’s petitions in its cases before the ERC,” Gerry Arances, convener of the Power for People Coalition, said in a statement on Thursday. In its PSE disclosure, SMC said the CA annulled and set aside the ERC order dated 29 September 2022 in ERC Cases 2019-081 and 2019-083 due to a “grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction.” The CA’s joint decision dated 27 June 2023, received by SMC through the Poblador Bautista Reyes Law Offices, granted the consolidated petitions for certiorari filed by SMEC and SPPC. Arances said the CA effectively released SMC from any consequences of breaking a contract “simply because it is not earning enough from a commitment it has made voluntarily.” “We hope that the court will reevaluate, and we will file a motion for reconsideration to give the justices another chance to live up to their name,” Arances said. It can be recalled that the two power companies, along with Meralco, appealed for a temporary rate hike under their 2019 power supply agreement to help them recover from the unprecedented hike in coal prices. The CA denied the petition of SMEC for a temporary restraining order, but it allowed a TRO and later a writ of preliminary injunction or WPI on the ERC decision to deny an increase in SPPC’s power supply agreement or PSA with Meralco. The CA then consolidated the two rate increase cases under the division that granted the WPI. In its report to the bourse, SMC bared that the CA also favored the SPPC and SMEC’s joint motion for price adjustments without prejudice to any further requests for price adjustments. The further request for adjustments would be for June 2022 onwards for SPPC, from June 2022 to 25 January 2023 or the date of writ of preliminary injunction; and for SMEC, from June 2022 to the date of the finality of the joint decision. The post AMID CA ‘OVERREACH’ ERC ready for battle appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Swiss want moratorium on deep-sea mining
Switzerland, a global commodities trading hub, decided Wednesday to push for a moratorium on commercial exploitation of the international seabed area, which has enormous mineral resources. Bern said deep-sea mining in the area "must be postponed" until protection from the "harmful effects" could be ensured. Switzerland will "support a moratorium on commercial exploitation of the area until there is more scientific knowledge of its impact and protection of the marine environment can be guaranteed", the government said in a statement. Wildlife conservation group WWF said: "Switzerland is sending an important signal for the protection of the oceans and their biodiversity". Meanwhile the Swiss-based International Union for Conservation of Nature said it was "fantastic news on deep sea mining". Greenpeace called it a "success for the oceans". Switzerland will take its position to the 28th session of the International Seabed Authority in Jamaica's capital Kingston next month. The ISA organizes and controls all mineral resources-related activities in the international seabed, outside national territorial jurisdiction, "for the benefit of all humankind", it says. It is mandated to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment from the potentially harmful consequences of seabed extraction operations. The deep seabed covers around 54 percent of the total area of the world's ocean floor. "There is growing interest from certain states and companies who wish to commercially exploit the area's mineral resources, which are potentially useful for the transition to renewable energy," the Swiss government said. "Minerals such as cobalt and manganese are needed to manufacture electric vehicle batteries," it added. However, most ISA member states think no commercial seabed mining should be allowed before regulations are in place, it said. Some 15 countries have gone further and are opposed to any commercial use of the area, with or without regulations, Bern added. Switzerland is a stronghold for commodity trading. It is home to large companies like Glencore -- active in coal, metals and oil -- or firms like Vitol or Trafigura, based in Singapore but with a large operations center in Geneva. With a net profit of $17.3 billion in 2022, Glencore is a juggernaut in the brokerage of metals, such as copper, zinc, nickel or cobalt. The post Swiss want moratorium on deep-sea mining appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EEI, IHDC ink solar farms dev’t MoU
More and more companies have committed to supporting the government’s thrust to ramp up the country’s share of renewable energy in its current power mix. The latest company to join the bandwagon was construction firm EEI Corporation or EEI, which recently signed a memorandum of Understanding with Industry Holdings and Development Corp. or IHDC for the joint exploration and co-development of three potential solar farms with a total capacity of 150 megawatts. In a stock report on Wednesday, EEI said “initiation of the potential projects is targeted in the next two years.” The MoU signing was held at RCBC Plaza in Makati City and was attended by Lorenzo Tan, chairman of EEI; Henry Antonio, president and CEO of EEI; Francis Chua, chairman of IHDC, and Noel Santiago, president of IHDC. Future projects under PPP According to EEI president and CEO Henry Antonio, his company and IHDC are also eyeing to participate in future projects under the Public-Private-Partnership program. “In EEI, we have a relentless commitment to nation-building, thus, we are very much eager to explore future opportunities under the PPP program wherein we can help provide better facilities for the country and the people,” Antonio said. Meanwhile, IHDC president Noel Santiago said its tie-up with EEI will help “benefit the economy, environment, and social living standards of the people altogether.” EEI is a 92-year-old company engaged in the business of general engineering construction and other industries such as the development, construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, and management of various power plants and renewable energy generating facilities through its subsidiary. IHDC, on the other hand, is a firm engaged in the investment, purchase, and acquisition of properties, manufacturing and logistics. Still coal and oil Based on the latest government data, coal, and oil still take up the bulk of the country’s energy mix at 37 percent and 35 percent, respectively. Under the updated Philippine Energy Development Plan, the government is now targeting to increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s total energy mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. Last year, renewable energy only took up 22.8 percent of the total mix. The post EEI, IHDC ink solar farms dev’t MoU appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PPP at its best
The immediate response of the Malampaya consortium to infuse P34 billion into energy exploration after the extension of Service Contract 38 speaks well of the extreme confidence of the Prime Energy-led venture that the natural gas area off Palawan holds huge promise. As the economy expands, the energy demand, which is a necessary component in increasing production and the setting up of new business projects, grows. Lately, power demand outstripped what is available resulting in red and yellow alerts indicating the possibility of electricity outages. Before the extension, the fate of the only large-scale energy source for the country, from which five major power plants source their fuel, was clouded with uncertainty. The nation was filled with apprehension over the timeline in which the Malampaya wells will run out by 2027 while output drastically falls starting next year. The prospect, however, is not hopeless since it turned out that the former operator, She’ll Philippines Exploration or Spex which is a unit of oil giant Royall Dutch Shell and responsible for the natural gas find in 1991, had stopped financing the search for new wells since 2014 after its parent company indicated that the region is not a priority in its global business. To dig one well, it is estimated that P500 million in investments would be required. The expenses mostly involve the drilling and extraction equipment that had to be obtained overseas. The extension of SC 38 gave the consortium until 2039 since the current contract will last until February next year. It took President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s approval to extend SC 38 after three failed tries during the previous regimes dating back to President Noynoy Aquino’s watch. The Udenna Group which had previously sought an additional 15 years for the deal ran into several conflicted interests in Congress which threw roadblocks to its proposal. The best argument for the extended contract was that after so many years it will be Filipino owners and workers who would be exploring the rich resource that based on estimates may still hold untapped gases with more than the volume already extracted. Prime Energy has retained the whole complement of technicians and workers that Spex left after it sold its interest in the consortium. In effect, there was only a transfer of investors through the purchase of shares. The Malampaya natural gas project started production on 23 February 1999 that puts the energy source in operation for 21 years with an initially estimated recoverable reserve of 3.4 to 4.5 trillion cubic feet. The lack of investments in exploration and development resulted in dwindled reserves. Based on the service contract map, areas that total the expanse of the Camago-Malampaya production area have not been explored or developed. Natural gas was the second-largest energy source for generator companies, next to coal as Malampaya supplies more than 20 percent of the electricity for the main Luzon grid. President Marcos’ imprimatur complemented by the immediate investments from the consortium is all that Private-Public Partnership should be to keep the nation’s growth momentum at maximum speed. The post PPP at its best appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Red, yellow debacles (2)
In search of energy sources that would provide the country with a stable supply of energy, particularly during the peak dry season when yellow and red alerts are prevalent, a sustainable source may just lie around the corner. Thus, turning waste into energy has become in vogue because it will hit two birds with one stone as it contributes to the production of power while also helping clean up the environment. Industry experts, however, consider the current laws do not support the development of a waste-to-energy industry. The Clean Air Act, for instance, sets rigid standards for incineration, the primary waste-to-energy technology. The House of Representatives already passed a bill allowing the use of waste-to-energy and redefining the incineration ban in the Clean Air Act. The next step, however, is stuck in the Senate which, as with other bills transmitted from the House, has not even started public hearings. Opportunities in the use of waste By 2025, the Philippines would have generated up to 92 million tons of waste, the equivalent of 500,000 blue whales, the largest animals to ever live on Earth. Then the country need not worry about a garbage crisis since it becomes the feedstock to generate power. The amount of waste that could end up in landfills, street corners, empty lots, or bodies of water will grow in direct proportion to population and urban centers. Landfills have limited capacities. A large volume of plastics that now clog the world’s oceans come from the Philippines, which is ranked one of the biggest contributors to plastic pollution in the seas. A law that could stop the waste-to-energy thrust dead on its track is the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act or ESWMA which mandated the use of landfills for waste disposal. ESWMA clashes head-on with the Renewable Energy Act, which mandated the government to prescribe policies and programs promoting and enhancing the development of biomass waste-to-energy facilities. The push for waste-to-energy as alternative fossil fuels lacks clarity in policies. First, the government through the DoE would have to list waste-to-energy as a priority power source as it did other renewable energy technologies—solar, wind, etc. To bring waste-to-energy production into the energy mix, there should be guaranteed and long-term power purchase agreements which would allow private companies to at least recoup their investments. The technology, nonetheless, is not cheap. Facilities that would turn heat from burning waste into energy would require substantial capital and technical expertise. Public-private partnerships would be ideal for such projects. Waste-to-energy facilities would require higher fees that would be charged against waste generators, including local governments. But who would end up bearing the added costs? Not the local governments with their commonly inadequate revenues. Consumers will have to bear the additional costs of waste-to-energy facilities if the government fails to provide support in the form of funding and incentives which are done in successful waste-to-energy systems like Singapore and Japan. Filtering facilities are part of state-of-the-art technologies to prevent waste-to-energy facilities from contributing to the toxic mix in the air. Environmental advocates have been campaigning against burning trash which they said is dirtier than burning coal. Incinerators release unimaginable volumes of minute pollutants into the air that could eventually affect the health of nearby residents. Waste-to-energy facilities need waste, they would need more and more trash to ramp up the production of energy, encouraging a steady and growing stream of waste. In some areas where local governments are starting to embrace waste-to-energy technology, unrest becomes prevalent among local folks. In the search for sustainable and clean sources of energy, the government should have an active part since proper use of technology will help mitigate the periodic lack of power while ending the trash problem that has defied solutions for ages. The post Red, yellow debacles (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
RCEP key energy plan factor — Lotilla
The Department of Energy on Wednesday said where it concerns the Regional Economic Partnership or RCEP which Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual said is set for roll out on 2 June 2023, it would welcome the National Economic and Development Authority Board’s endorsement of an executive order implementing tariff commitments under the major trade bloc deal that would elevate the country’s energy programs. Tariff commitments under the RCEP will be implemented in the country 60 days after the government deposited the instrument of ratification with the ASEAN Secretary-General last 3 April. Pascual presented to the NEDA Board, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the executive order that would operationalize the implementation of the country’s tariff commitments under the RCEP agreement. Progressive trade liberalization With this, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said he believes that the RCEP Agreement is reflective of the country’s interest to progressively liberalize trade and create a competitive investment environment in the region for the Philippine energy sector. He said RCEP, a major trade breakthrough that entered into force on 1 January 2022 for ten original parties namely Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, provides opportunities for expanded market access and establishes clear, stable, and predictable rules on trade in energy goods and services, including investments among participating countries. RCEP entered into force for the Republic of Korea on 1 February 2022, for Malaysia on 18 March 2022 and for Indonesia on 2 January 2023. Aggressive push Further, Lotilla said energy-related trade in services would further improve the business climate of the energy sector in the country, “supportive of the Department’s aggressive push for the exploration, development, and utilization of the country’s indigenous energy resources as we are transitioning to a low-carbon future.” Even before the country acceded to RCEP, the ASEAN and ASEAN+1 Free Trade Partners already enjoyed zero percent tariff rates on energy goods covered under Chapter 27 of the Tariff Book published by the Tariff Commission. This is preserved in the RCEP Agreement as a reaffirmation of the continued cooperation on energy trade in the region. Tariff elimination important According to Lotilla, tariff elimination is important to ensure an unhampered supply of commodities, considering the reduced production from the Malampaya reserves. Also, the zero percent tariff rates are also applicable to liquefied natural gas, with the Philippines considering this as transition fuel for power plants supporting variable renewable energy coming into play this year in the country. “Thus, RCEP would not cause any adverse impact on imported energy goods such as oil and gas,” Lotilla said. “In addition, the zero percent tariff rates on coal products were extended to Most-Favored-Nation countries in light of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, which affected the global economic situation and the steady supply of commodities in the world.” In evaluating international agreements affecting the Philippine energy sector, the DoE considers investments, energy security, and access to technologies, maintaining that the energy sector is a capital-intensive undertaking where Filipino capital may not be sufficient. Advanced technological capabilities Lotilla said developed RCEP Partner Countries have advanced technological capabilities. Services by these countries in the Philippines could enhance technology transfer to local counterpart companies and the DoE. He also stressed that international energy cooperation is vital in pursuing collaborative activities with other countries to achieve greater energy self-sufficiency, security and sustainability. “These efforts are geared towards ensuring the country has enough energy supply to power Filipino households and communities. The DoE remains at the forefront in supporting President Marcos Jr. on this undertaking. As articulated in the latest 2020-2040 Philippine Energy Plan, the DoE works steadily across borders, consistent with its thrust of fostering stronger international relations and partnerships meant to elevate the country’s energy programs and projects to attract foreign investments,” he said. “Above all, the DoE is one with the Philippine government in assuring the public that the RCEP Agreement will not adversely impact the country’s energy supply chain. At the very least, it will further boost and encourage trade and investments in the country toward affordable, reliable, resilient, secure, clean, sustainable, climate-centered, and accessible energy,” Lotilla stressed. The post RCEP key energy plan factor — Lotilla appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China approves coal power surge despite emissions pledge: Greenpeace
China has approved a major surge in coal power so far this year, prioritizing energy supply over its pledge to reduce emissions from fossil fuels, Greenpeace said Monday. The world's second-largest economy is also its biggest emitter of the greenhouse gases driving climate change, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), and China's emissions pledges are seen as essential to keeping global temperature rise well below two degrees Celsius. The jump in approvals for coal-fired power plants, however, has fueled concerns that China will backtrack on its goals to peak emissions between 2026 and 2030 and become carbon-neutral by 2060. Local governments in energy-hungry Chinese provinces approved at least 20.45 gigawatts of coal-fired power in the first three months of 2023, Greenpeace said. That is more than double the 8.63 GW Greenpeace reported for the same period last year, and greater than the 18.55 GW that got the green light for the whole of 2021. China relied on coal for nearly 60 percent of its electricity last year. The push for more coal plants "risks climate disasters... and locking us into a high-carbon pathway," Greenpeace campaigner Xie Wenwen said. "The 2022 coal boom has clearly continued into this year." A study released in February by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) said China last year approved the largest expansion of coal-fired power plants since 2015. Vicious cycle Most of the new coal projects approved in the January-March period this year were in provinces that have suffered punishing power shortages due to record heatwaves in the last two years, Greenpeace said. Several others were in southwest China, where a record drought last year slashed hydropower output and forced factories to shut down. It was unclear how many of the coal power plants approved this year will begin construction. Greenpeace analysts warned that investing in more fossil-fuel plants to prepare for the spike in air conditioning will create a vicious cycle: increased greenhouse gas emissions from the coal plants will accelerate climate change, resulting in more frequent extreme weather such as heat waves. "China's power sector can still peak emissions by 2025," Greenpeace's Xie said, but added that emissions released today will linger in the atmosphere for decades. China is also the world's largest and fastest-growing producer of renewable energy. Wind, solar, hydro and nuclear sources are expected to supply a third of its electricity demand by 2025, up from 28.8 per cent in 2020, according to estimates by the National Energy Administration. But Greenpeace said the rise in approvals for coal power projects shows how the need for short-term economic growth is diverting investment away from renewable energy projects such as grid upgrades that can supply surplus wind and solar power to regions that need it. With an average lifespan of about 40 to 50 years, China's coal plants will be operating at minimum capacity and at a loss if the country delivers on its emissions pledge, according to the report. The China Electricity Council said more than half of the country's large coal-fired power companies made losses in the first half of 2022. The post China approves coal power surge despite emissions pledge: Greenpeace appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»