Energy

For a country surrounded by so many major oil and gas producers, the Philippines’ output is surprisingly low, suggesting that there are reserves waiting to be exploited. This may happen in the near future, with more than two dozen production blocks being put up for tender. Moreover, there are vast reserves waiting to be exploited in what the government dubs the West Philippine Sea, although these territories are disputed by several other countries. In electricity production, coal dominates, although gas has taken a substantial share, and there are plans to triple the nation’s renewable energy capacity. This section has interviews with Jose Rene D Almendras, Secretary, Department of Energy; Erramon Aboitiz, President and CEO, Aboitiz Power Corporation; and Ramon S Ang, Chairman and CEO, Petron Corporation.