Russia help in development of new energy sources eyed by House panel
By AJ Siytangco
Published Oct 8, 2019 05:26 pm
By Ben Rosario
Tapping Russia’s help in developing new sources of energy in the Philippines is being studied by the House Committee on Energy, Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco said upon his arrival from the East European nation.
Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velaso
(FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN) Velasco, chairman of the energy panel, was a member of the Philippine delegation led by President Rodrigo Duterte that visited Russia on invitation of its leader President Vladimir Putin. During a Duterte-led 2017 visit to Russia, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) of the Philippines and Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation had agreed to enter into a memorandum of agreement on the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The deal centered on the exchange of technological know-how and experiences in the use of nuclear energy as power source. Velasco said at least 16 percent of Russia’s power is sourced from nuclear energy. On the other hand, thermal energy contributes 68 percent of Russia’s power needs while 16 percent is hydro energy. Velasco noted that Russia has been engaged in “various forms of energy production” that may help Philippines address its growing energy requirements. “The issue of energy was one of the topics discussed in the bilateral talks between Russia and the Philippines,” Velasco, who accompanied Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Majority Leader Martin Romualdez as part of the official Duterte entourage during last week’s visit. According to Velasco, Russia is also known as having the largest natural gas reserves in the world, the second largest coal reserves, and the eighth largest oil reserves. He said Russia and the Philippines may well be good partners in building more sources of energy in the field of natural gas and thermal energy production. “We are rich in geothermal energy and our seas, we have lots of them, could also be harnessed for thermal energy production,” Velasco stated. Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta shared Velasco’s view. Sorreta said Russia is a major player in almost all forms of energy and that there is a need for the country to look for other sources of energy.
Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velaso(FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN) Velasco, chairman of the energy panel, was a member of the Philippine delegation led by President Rodrigo Duterte that visited Russia on invitation of its leader President Vladimir Putin. During a Duterte-led 2017 visit to Russia, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) of the Philippines and Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation had agreed to enter into a memorandum of agreement on the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The deal centered on the exchange of technological know-how and experiences in the use of nuclear energy as power source. Velasco said at least 16 percent of Russia’s power is sourced from nuclear energy. On the other hand, thermal energy contributes 68 percent of Russia’s power needs while 16 percent is hydro energy. Velasco noted that Russia has been engaged in “various forms of energy production” that may help Philippines address its growing energy requirements. “The issue of energy was one of the topics discussed in the bilateral talks between Russia and the Philippines,” Velasco, who accompanied Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Majority Leader Martin Romualdez as part of the official Duterte entourage during last week’s visit. According to Velasco, Russia is also known as having the largest natural gas reserves in the world, the second largest coal reserves, and the eighth largest oil reserves. He said Russia and the Philippines may well be good partners in building more sources of energy in the field of natural gas and thermal energy production. “We are rich in geothermal energy and our seas, we have lots of them, could also be harnessed for thermal energy production,” Velasco stated. Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta shared Velasco’s view. Sorreta said Russia is a major player in almost all forms of energy and that there is a need for the country to look for other sources of energy.