Asian energy dialogue tackles ‘resiliency concerns’
Resiliency of energy infrastructure in the midst of extreme weather swings had been among the high point of discussions in the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) that the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) has been hosting in Bohol this week.
The energy department noted that “participating countries shared information and experiences on building a resilient energy sector.”
Such, it said, will be highly relevant to “high risk countries on the adverse effects of changing weather patterns and disasters.”
Beyond environment and climate change risk issues, the dialogue similarly tackles the ‘energy-water-food nexus,” an intensifying concern when it comes to development and utilization of energy resources.
Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said “these topics are the key areas of cooperation where Asian nations can consolidate and expand efforts to ensure a secure, affordable, sustainable, and resilient energy supplies in the region.” With the event, the energy department indicated that it opts for “promotion of information exchange and the sharing of best practices on energy policies, plans and programs among ACD member-states.”
Additionally, there would be that overarching goal for the Philippines to entice investments on renewables; natural gas as ‘transition fuel’; nuclear energy and other clean energy technologies.
On a higher spot, the DOE is also setting sights on “expanding trade and financial markets within Asia,” which it opined as something that could serve as a building block for the creation of trueto-form Asian economic community.
Relative to energy resiliency concerns, Cusi is well aware that he still has that one big problem to solve on the country’s energy infrastructure facilities – from crumbling transmission facilities to easily-stricken power distribution networks at every strike of natural calamities.
He has so far cited that at this stage, the country still struggles at the dilemma of having “very weak infrastructure” in the energy sector.
The energy chief emphasized that based on the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index 20162017, the Philippines ranked “95th out of 138 countries in terms of quality infrastructure, the lowest among middleincome countries in Southeast Asia.”
That is the major reason then, he said, “why this government had to work on a vision – a vision to transform our country to an upper middle-income economy by 2022.”
Cusi indicated that the other policy focus of the department would be on “institutionalizing disaster resilience in the energy sector for strengthening energy systems and facilities.”
Such must particularly rope in “quick restoration and provision of alternative sources that would lessen the burden to our consumers during calamities.”
Several policy tools are being explored on this area, but it needs firmer legislative backing so they could be institutionalized as long-term measures.