Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi (right) together with DOE Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos (center) visited yesterday (23 July) the Malampaya natural gas offshore platform developed and operated by Shell Philippines Exploration BV (SPEX). 

With the facility providing up to 40% of Luzon’s electricity requirements, the visit was also an opportunity for the DOE to appreciate the preparations in anticipation of Malampaya’s scheduled maintenance shutdown in October this year. 

Together with the DOE officials are SPEX External Relations Manager for Upstream (left), SPEX  Managing Director and General Manager, Mr. Don Paulino (second row, left), and SPEX Senior Asset Commercial Advisor Charisse Choa (second row, right). 

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TAGUIG CITY – The Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Circular to guide the indigenous communities in accessing and utilizing the financial benefits from their hosting of power generation facilities and/or energy resource development projects pursuant to the Energy Regulations (ER) No. 1-94 Program. 

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi stated that, “The DOE recognizes the right of our tribal and indigenous communities to optimize available social development opportunities and preserve their critical role as the stewards of our energy resources, particularly where the power plants and/or the energy resource development projects are located.” 

The Department Circular DC2019-06-0010 prescribes the “Administrative Operating Guidelines for the Availment and Utilization of Financial Benefits by the Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples, pursuant to DOE Department Circular No. DC2018-03-0005”. 

Under DC2019-06-0010, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) shall endorse all legitimate indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples (ICCs/IPs) beneficiaries to the DOE within 30 days from receiving all the necessary requirements from the ICCs/IPs. Thereafter, the DOE will notify the concerned generation company and/or energy resource developer of the inclusion of the host ICCs/IPs for the remittance of their financial benefits. The policy enables the host ICCs/IPs could to utilize the funds for the implementation of their social development projects. 

“The Host ICCs/IPs’ receipt of financial benefits from power plants situated within their ancestral domain is a symbolic way to mark the 25th year of implementing ER No. 1-94. This arrangement with the ICCs/IPs further strengthens the DOE’s commitment to boost their participation, cooperation and sustained partnership in power development projects,” Sec. Cusi said. 

DC2019-06-0010 was published on 12 July 2019 in Business World and Manila Times and shall take effect 15 days from its date of publication.

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TAGUIG CITY - Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi (center) witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) and Israeli firm Ratio Petroleum Ltd. held today at the PNOC office.

PNOC President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Admiral Reuben S Lista (ret) (center-right), and Ratio Petroleum Ltd. CEO, Mr. Itay Raphael Tabibzada (center-left), signed the MOU which seeks to establish cooperation between the two parties for the exploration and development of oil and gas resources in the Philippines, including the entrance of PNOC to Service Contract (SC) 76 based on terms to be mutually agreed upon.

POWER TO CHOOSE GREEN: Participants are all smiles during the photo-op on the Public Consultation on draft Department Circular, "Guidelines Governing the Issuance of Operating Permits to RE Suppliers under Green Energy Option Program," held yesterday (11 July) at Batangas City. 

The event aims to discuss the process and requirements for the application and issuance of various RE permits.

BATANGAS CITY – The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB) on Thursday (11 July) conducted the third leg of public consultations on the draft Department Circular (DC) that would guide the end-users, RE suppliers and network service providers in facilitating the option taken by End-Users to choose RE resources to supply their energy needs. 

Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said, “The DOE is committed to establish an energy-secure future and bolstering our country’s RE resources is one avenue to achieve this. I am confident that the GEOP will give rise to a reliable market for RE generation and enhance competition among RE and other power suppliers.”

The draft circular providing the “Guidelines Governing the Issuance of Operating Permits to Renewable Energy Suppliers under the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP)", serves as a follow through to the implementation of DOE Circular No. 2018-07-0019 entitled “Promulgating the Rules and Guidelines Governing the Establishment of the Green Energy Option Program Pursuant to the Renewable Energy Act of 2008”.

The public consultation focused on the guidelines and procedures in the issuance, administration and revocation of Operating Permits to RE suppliers. 

REMB Director Mylene C. Capongcol and the recently appointed Chairperson of the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) Atty. Monalisa Dimalanta headed the discussions which covered relevant sections such as RE supplier qualifications, application requirements, processing and approval procedures, and the revocation or cancellation of operating permits. 

On the other hand, Mr. Andresito Ulgado, Division Chief of the Hydro and Ocean Energy Management Division presented the GEOP Supply Agreement, which will guide parties interested to avail the GEOP. 

Among those who participated in the discussions of the draft DC were Energy Regulatory Commission, RE developers, private distribution utilities including electric cooperatives and electricity consumers, as well as members of the academe.

Previous public consultations were conducted in Cebu City (18 June) and in Davao City  (27 June), while the final leg of public consultations will be held on 25 July in Clark, Pampanga.

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