Marcos to Brunei energy leaders: PH interest in waste-to-energy projects still at micro level

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei — President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has expressed intention in waste-to-energy projects amid the Philippines' aim to transition from fossil fuels to renewables. 

In a meeting with Brunei's major players in the energy sector here, Marcos tackled the potential investments in the Philippines' renewable energy sector as well as the enhancements on oil and gas collaborations.

At present, Marcos said the country's interest over waste-to-energy projects is still at a ''micro level.'' 

“There’s a great deal of interest in that (waste-to-energy). But right now, it is not at the very macro level. It’s very much at the micro level. Yeah, it’s basically local governments because there is the problem, the attendant problem of what do we do with our waste,” the President said. 

“The old solution was to ship them somewhere else and pay somebody else to put them in a landfill. Nobody wants it anymore. Nobody is not worth [the] money anymore for anyone. That’s a problem, especially in the big cities. But then that’s also where that solution could be most viable,” he added. 

Marcos disclosed several challenges on achieving these waste-to-energy projects such as legal and regulatory issues and scaling of wastes by local government units.

“We had to organize garbage collection in half the province to be able to support that technology. And there's the problem this politics entered into it. It was just a little difficult. You must be familiar with the problem,” Marcos said.

“But I think the legislators are coming around to the understanding that there actually are viable and clean solutions to the problem of waste disposal. So you take care of two very difficult problems at the same time,” he added.

Among those the President met were representatives from Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn. Bhd (BSP), Brunei LNG Sdn. Bhd (BLNG), Total Energies in Brunei, Serikandi Oilfield Services Sdn Bhd, and Adinin Group of Companies.

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Brunei is exploring the potential for renewable energy-based connectivity by establishing interconnections with neighboring countries. 

The PCO said that oil and gas would remain integral to the regional energy mix during the ongoing energy transition.

The Philippines has made a commitment to reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy as the administration hopes to align with global efforts to combat climate change. —KBK, GMA Integrated News