{"id":17961,"date":"2022-05-06T01:59:55","date_gmt":"2022-05-06T01:59:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/energytracker.asia\/?p=17961"},"modified":"2022-05-06T01:59:58","modified_gmt":"2022-05-06T01:59:58","slug":"the-philippines-presidential-candidates-2022-should-pursue-renewables-and-halt-lng","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/energytracker.asia\/the-philippines-presidential-candidates-2022-should-pursue-renewables-and-halt-lng\/","title":{"rendered":"The Philippines’ Presidential Candidates 2022 Should Pursue Renewables and Halt LNG"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The winner among the Philippines’ presidential candidates<\/strong> will have many uphill battles ahead. The future leader will need to find a way out of the country’s massive LNG pipeline plans and ease the public opposition against them. Achieving these aims will ensure enormous support and, most importantly, guarantee a more sustainable and self-sufficient energy system for the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The LNG Market Boom and Presidential Candidates Philippines<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As of 2020, fossil fuels accounted for about 79% of the country\u2019s power generation mix<\/a>. Natural gas holds a 22% share<\/a>. However, this figure is poised to almost double in the following years to over 40% by 2040<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, there is over 29 GW worth of gas power plant projects<\/a> in the pipeline. More than 21 GW of them are active, meaning they are either included in the Department of Energy\u2019s lists of proposed projects, announced in the news or issued clearance for system impact studies and other screenings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such massive fleet expansions are often portrayed as beneficial for a country\u2019s economy and its energy future. However, LNG has no place<\/a> in a world that is marching towards decarbonisation. Its environmental impact aside, LNG also bears massive financial, energy security and reputational risks. However, for the Philippines, the implications of these problems are even more glaring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Map of LNG Projects in Southeast Asia. Source: ExxonMobil<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Impacts of the Massive LNG Fleet Expansion Plans for the Philippines<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Communities, organisations and environmentalists in Batangas, where two LNG projects are now in advanced development stages, recently conducted a fluvial demonstration<\/a> in Verde Island Passage. The area provides food to over 2 million people and is recognised as the centre of global shore-fish biodiversity<\/a>. In addition to fueling the climate crisis, the groups claim that the projects are a threat to marine life and their livelihoods<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a 2021 report<\/a>, the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) cautioned against LNG developments in the country due to price volatility. The institute found that only 29% of the Philippines\u2019 LNG projects are viable. IEEFA<\/a> views the role that LNG plays in the energy mix of the Philippines as being a “fuel of last resort”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last but not least, there is also an energy dependency problem. Despite the country’s intensifying energy woes caused by the declining and unstable gas supply<\/a> from the Malampaya field, expanding the LNG infrastructure through new terminals and capacity are unlikely to solve the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, doing this will make the country less self-sufficient from an energy perspective. It will also lock the country into a fossil-fuel-dominated future worth USD 14 billion<\/a> in stranded assets. Avoiding such a scenario is crucial, as Filipinos are already grappling with rising fuel and food costs<\/a> due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to IEEFA<\/a>, countries like the Philippines may face further challenges in securing LNG imports due to the war’s long-term impact. As a way out, IEEFA suggests the adoption of cleaner, domestically-sourced renewables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Source: IEEFA<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>The Role of the Presidential Candidates in the 2022 Philippine Presidential Election In Solving the Problem<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Energy has been a heated issue among the Philippines presidential candidates. Those with problematic stances on the energy transition are threatened to be called out<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Once appointed, the next president needs to hit the ground running when it comes to the climate crisis. The focus should be on halting the LNG developments in the Philippines. This includes the ongoing projects in the marine hotspot Verde Island Passage. A move like this will set the newly elected president on a course for strengthened support. Furthermore, it will bring down a notable barrier standing in the way of the country\u2019s decarbonisation progress. It will also ensure massive economic and energy self-sufficiency benefits along the road.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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