PHL, Japan sign energy cooperation pact

The governments of Japan and the Philippines have signed a technical cooperation agreement to improve the Southeast Asian nation’s electricity infrastructure and power generation efficiency.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) Deputy Director-General Kazuhisa Kobayashi signed a letter of intent at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office in central Tokyo on Wednesday, the Department of Energy (DOE) said on Friday.

“The technical cooperation involves the identification of issues and remedial measures based on Japanese experience and knowledge,” the DOE said in a statement.

The issues and measures include:

• proposed institutional arrangements to propel the installation of reliable facilities

• training the Philippine government and independent power producers to enhance operations and maintenance quality of thermal power plants

• sharing rehabilitation diagnosis results in line with the action plan

The plan is a result of a series of coordination meetings between DOE and METI officials to resolve power sector issues.

It is based on METI’s study of the Philippine situation that covered:

• supply-demand outlook

• electricity tariff

• electrification rate

• disaster resiliency

Disaster resiliency is a complement to the DOE’s performance assessment and audit of power generation, transmission, and distribution systems and facilities, according to the department.

The agreement is in line with the DOE’s function of disseminating information based on energy research programs for optimal development of various forms of energy production and use under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

“Technical assistance is needed for Filipinos to get more value for their money in terms of investment, energy development, and utilization. In the end, it should address the overall drive towards energy efficiency,” Cusi said. —Ted Cordero/VDS, GMA News