TAGUIG CITY—Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi reiterated yesterday (19 November) his earlier call for joint exploration activities, and raised the importance of integrating resilience in future power work plans, as he virtually joined fellow Energy Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the 38th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM). 

The Philippine Energy chief requested the ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE) to revisit the existing sharing agreements on oil and gas exploration and production, and to recommend similar or modified agreements for possible adoption.

According to him, this ASCOPE action will fast track the attainment of energy security in ASEAN.

Secretary Cusi made the proposal in support of his statement at last year's 37th AMEM, where he urged the ASEAN to rethink and jointly act on strategies that would enable the Member States to forge stronger regional collaboration and cooperation on energy resource exploration, development, and production within ASEAN’s shared and common borders.

“With all of us sharing the common aspiration of attaining energy security for our respective countries, we must maximize the advantages of belonging to this multilateral Association in order to fast track its realization,” the Secretary pointed out. 

He then encouraged ASEAN national oil companies to explore joint oil and gas exploration and development.

Secretary Cusi also took the opportunity to brief the AMEM on President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval of the Department of Energy's (DOE) recommendation to lift the suspension of petroleum activities and resume exploration in the West Philippine Sea. 

“This development would augur well for our economic recovery in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, given that the resumption of work would infuse our economy with fresh investments and help generate high-skill employment opportunities,” Secretary Cusi said.

He also conveyed the Philippines’ commendation to ASCOPE for its work on the Trans ASEAN Gas Pipeline Project, as well as its studies on establishing a common gas market, small-scale LNG, and LNG Bunkering. 

“These are also the current priority directions the Philippines is pursuing as we continue to develop our natural gas industry,” the Energy chief said.

INTEGRATION OF ENERGY RESILIENCE IN POWER WORK PLANS

With the growing recurrence and intensity of various calamities to hit the Philippines and other parts of the world, Secretary Cusi also said it is high time for the Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA) to integrate emergency preparedness and resiliency in its future work plan, instead of limiting itself to the physical aspect of power grid interconnection.

“I would like to urge HAPUA to take bolder steps and incorporate preparedness and resiliency components into the ASEAN Power Grid. In addition to interconnectivity, we must also ensure that energy systems are able to withstand and bounce back quickly from the impact of disasters,” Secretary Cusi said.   

He then called on all Member States, through the HAPUA, to share their best practices in policies and regulations, emerging programs and projects, and enhanced institutional arrangements. 

“We must not allow ourselves to become paralyzed in the face of adversities. I am confident that should we choose to put our heads together and establish sound contingency protocols, our region's power sector would come out even stronger than before,” Secretary Cusi stressed.

On another AMEM agenda, Secretary Cusi was represented by DOE Senior Undersecretary Jesus Cristino P. Posadas, as the Secretary had to attend the Senate Plenary Session on the proposed 2021 DOE budget.

In a statement read for him by Undersecretary Posadas, the DOE chief updated his colleagues in the ASEAN on the recent Philippine initiatives that aim to make the country an attractive energy investment destination.

The latest initiatives, he said, included the updating of the 2018-2040 Philippine Energy Plan (PEP), which will accelerate country’s energy transition towards sustainable development. It will also help the Philippine energy family and stakeholders better understand what the energy situation will be 20 years from now.

“On that note, we would like to invite all Member States to explore the potential of emerging business opportunities to be brought forth by our most recent policy innovations,” Undersecretary Posadas said, quoting Secretary Cusi.

The 38th AMEM and the Associated Meetings is hosted by Vietnam. It is held virtually for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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