Weather forecast provider opens branch in Phl

MANILA, Philippines - A leading private weather forecast provider for marine oil and gas industry in Australia is opening a branch office in the Philippines.

The Offshore Weather Services (OWS) has appointed Dr. Prisco Nilo, former administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration as head of the company.

Peter Wellby, chairman of the board of directors, said aside from weather forecasting for offshore oil and gas industry, the OWS Philippines would  provide consultancy services to green energy projects and coastal and ocean engineering infrastructure development  projects.

Wellby said the company uses the most modern atmospheric and wave models, comprehensive meteorological and oceanographic data base.

“OWS has noted an increasing requirement from operators in oil and gas exploration in Asia for a reliable marine weather forecasting service,” he said.

“Coupled with the increasing demand from the Philippines’ renewable energy development, it is important that companies undertaking such projects can minimize risk and maximize their output by making the weather work for them.”

Wellby said his company has expertise and established a reputation for delivering solid climate studies.

“We see that our presence here in the Philippines will bring large benefits in both efficiency and safety to industries engaged in traditional offshore oil and gas production and the emerging green energy sector,” he said.

Gao Hongmin, managing director of OWS Asia, said “the MetOcean studies and  environmental monitoring division of OWS has become well established in Southeast Asia providing environmental hindcast studies and ongoing real time data acquisition for companies in the region.

“To date, the Philippines has remained a quiet area of Asia for our services. With the opening of our branch office, we will provide services not only to oil and gas industries located here but also for new alternative energy, companies developing their resources which will require a good background of environmental data.”

“Considering the increased potential for oil and gas production in the Philippines and the thrust towards the use of renewable energy, the OWS can provide the much needed specialized and site-specific weather forecasting and climate services both onshore and offshore to optimize productivity in the energy sector,” Nilo said.