Duterte urges DOE to approve energy investments with new economic reform

Duterte urges DOE to approve energy investments with new economic reform

PRESIDENT DUTERTE IS SPEARHEADING THE PHILIPPINES' ENERGY SECTOR TO UPLIFT
THE ECONOMY AS HE CHANGED THE APPROVAL SYSTEM OF INCOMING POWER INVESTMENTS
FROM THREE YEARS TO A 30-DAY TIME FRAME.

"The shift was meant to hasten the expansion of the nation's power capacity
to meet growing demand," Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said,
who spoke with US-based network CNBC on Tuesday.

Cusi said that the need to complete their capacity fast has become an urgent
concern to complement the 30-day procedure for investors to implement their
projects.

The so-called projects are collectively known as the Energy Projects of
National Significance (EPNS) and will streamline power generation to
transmission and other related ventures, including those required to
maintain grid stability and security.

Along with this development, Duterte will also appoint a representative from
the DOE to manage the Energy Investment Coordinating Council, a new
inter-agency that will be responsible for running and simplifying the
approval process especially those of big-ticket projects.

However, applications submitted but missed the month-long process, Cusi
said, will still be considered approved.

These protocols are under the Executive Order (EO) 30, which Duterte signed
on June 28, linking power investors to coordinate with the national
government's efforts for the development of the energy industry in the
country.

Cusi added that the country is adopting a balance in the country's energy
mix that includes renewable energy sources like geothermal, hydropower,
solar and wind energy.

"We (have not placed) any preference on any technology because we need to
build up our capacity and we have to do it fast," he said.

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Link to Original Article:
http://powerphilippines.com/2017/07/13/duterte-doe-approve-energy-new-econom
ic-reform/

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com