Press Release
March 10, 2009

Zubiri to DOE: Pursue renewable energy program

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri today urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to pursue the renewable energy program which was enacted into law December last year.

Zubiri's appeal came after Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes indicated the need for additional energy supply in the next 5 to 6 years during the Joint Congressional Power Commission (PowerCom) hearing held at the Senate earlier this month.

The commission discussed the issues of power supply and demand, updates on privatization of state-owned power plants including the status of electricity rates charged to end-users.

Reyes told the PowerCom that power supply in the Visayas and Mindanao is already tight and proof to that is the 2 to 3 hour brownouts reported in these areas, as early as last year.

"The DOE exhibits a body language that didn't seem to acknowledge that a power emergency situation looms. Any reasonable person will see that the growth of the economy, as well as population growth will require additional energy supply in the next 5 to 6 years."

"Unprecedented grant of incentives are already assured by the law. It will only need the DOE to fully transmit to investors and encourage the private sector as provided under the Renewable Energy Act."

He stressed that "if the government's Energy agencies will utilize all the resources available including the proposal to put up wind power, geothermal and hydro electric, the 3000 megawatt (MW) power shortage seen by the DOE in a couple of years could be averted this soon."

The Majority Leader likewise expressed that "the operation of the Bataan Nuclear Power (BNPP) is not the ultimate solution to the country's looming power-shortage problem.."

He reiterated his earlier statements that with the promotion of renewable energy, nuclear energy may not be necessary noting the Philippines has enough wind resources to produce an additional 1500 megawatts of energy, and sufficient geothermal reserves to produce over a thousand megawatts of energy, adequate "to offset a need for nuclear power."

Zubiri likewise expressed reluctance over the government's plan to operate the Sucat power plant in order to supply the energy requirement in case the private sector fails to cover the 3000 mw deficiency in 2012.

"The Sucat power plant produces one of the dirtiest types of power generator. If ever it should be put on stream again, it should use a cleaner fuel like natural gas and not coal or bunker fuel which are the dirtiest forms of fuel and thus harms human health and environment," he said.

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