MANILA, (PIA) — The Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) and the Ministry of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) will conduct multiple meetings to create a roadmap for their energy cooperation agreement.
This Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Philippine Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla and Saudi Energy Minister Prince ABDULAZIZ bin SALMAN AL SAUD in Saudi Arabia, recently.
The roadmap is expected to be ready in three months and will be presented to Minister Al Saud and Secretary Lotilla. Undersecretary Alessandro O. Sales will lead the bilateral discussions for the Philippines.
“I welcome the joint efforts by both countries to implement the provisions of the MOU, which is a direct follow-through of the discussions held during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to Saudi Arabia in October last year, Secretary Lotilla said.
During that visit, Saudi state-owned companies expressed strong interest in investing in the Philippine energy sector,” he added.
The MOU specifies key collaboration areas like petroleum derivatives, exploring native hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), digital technology for managing electrical systems, and boosting energy efficiency.
“Prince Abdulaziz and his team expressed interest in our native or naturally occurring hydrogen resources. Given Saudi Arabia’s extensive expertise in the exploration and development of upstream sectors, this cooperation holds promising benefits for both countries,” Lotilla said.
The main sources of naturally occurring hydrogen are found in abundance in the Philippines. Earlier this year, two locations in the Zambales Ophiolite Complex were designated for hydrogen exploration, and the winning bidders will be announced soon.
On sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has established international targets in commercial and civilian aviation.
One sanctioned pathway for the production of SAF is the use of cracked coconuts as a feedstock.
As the world’s second-largest producer of coconuts, with an annual production close to 15 million metric tons, the Philippines could effectively utilize these coconuts, which are generally not suitable for food or oil, to facilitate SAF production.
“We will also jointly explore the application of digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the management of our electrical systems and broader energy infrastructure,” Secretary Lotilla added.
The application of digital technology and artificial intelligence is poised to bring about a transformation in the energy sector, enabling real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and energy forecasting.
This initiative aims to bolster the nation’s energy network by advancing the creation of smarter grids, automated control systems, and data-driven decision-making processes that can minimize waste, optimize resource allocation, and enhance energy security.
In its partnership with Saudi Arabia, the Philippines intends to integrate state-of-the-art energy efficiency technologies and best practices that have the potential to minimize energy consumption, reduce costs, and foster sustainability.
This collaboration, supported by a comprehensive roadmap, emphasizes the Philippines’ commitment to ensuring energy security, driving economic growth, and achieving sustainable development, while benefiting from Saudi Arabia’s considerable expertise and experience. (JLN/PIA-NCR)
