DOE teams up with Korean group to push alternative fuels

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) has teamed up with a South Korean group to promote alternative fuels locally, specifically natural gas.

Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said in line with this effort, the DOE will conduct a joint forum with the Korea Association for Natural Gas Vehicle (KANGV), a non-profit organization that advocates improvement of air quality through utilization of CNG vehicles.  

He said the event will be highlighted by a policy and technical seminar, product exhibition, strategy meeting among top-ranking officials from both Korean and Philippine government, as well as a technical exposure tour to NGV facilities such as compressed natural gas (CNG) bus terminals and refueling station.

KANGV has been instrumental in the successful deployment of natural gas vehicles in urban transportation in Korea.

The forum will also feature a product exhibition for the products and services of KANGV-member companies, among them Korea Gas Technology Corp., Engine Tech Co. Ltd. (a CNG retrofit company), Kwangshin Co. Ltd. and World Power Tech Co. Ltd. (CNG station builders), and ENK Co. Ltd. (CNG cylinders). 

The target participants are government agencies, financing institutions, CNG bus companies Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. (PSPC), and the Service Contract 38 consortium (Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX), PNOC-Exploration Corp. and Chevron Malampaya), among others.

The energy chief said the meeting is envisioned to provide an avenue for the exchange of both countries’ experience in policy formulation, technological advances and best practices in deployment of NGV in urban transportation. 

“The Philippines-Korea NGV Forum is part of the Philippines’ initiative relative to the implementation of the National Gas Vehicle Program for Public Transport (NGVPPT) to improve current supply infrastructure and access to CNG as a clean alternative transport fuel,” he said.