MANILA, Philippines - From merely being an oil and petroleum company, Shell is now a global leader in power, energy and gas technology—taking into consideration bigger responsibilities in shaping the sustainable progress of the planet.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the Philippines, one of the markets where Shell has had deep roots and extensive opportunity to pioneer the future of energy.
As it marks its 100 years in the country this year, the next 100 years offer exciting prospects for collaboration, innovation, and sustainability. In a 2013 study conducted by Shell, for instance, it revealed that majority of Filipino households believe that government and industry have the biggest roles to play in providing more reliable and affordable energy, with vigilant participation from the general public and the international community. For its part, Shell has expressed commitment to pioneer investments that turn innovative ideas into sustainable solutions and lead in responsible delivering of cleaner energy.
As early as 1982, when the country’s socio-political situation was marred by instability and the oil industry was going through tough times, the company began the exploration of non-traditional energy sources, including generating energy from the stems and leaves of pineapples, densified fuel, solar energy, and coconut blended with diesel oils.
Over the course of looking for alternative sources of energy, Shell channelled over $100 million searching for oil within the country’s borders as well. Although Shell and its partners did not find it in volumes that can be considered significant, they made another important discovery—enormous amounts of natural gas reserves beneath the waters of Malampaya Sound in Palawan.
Not to be mistaken for gasoline, natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel because it produces reduced carbon dioxide and it is also affordable. The ensuing Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project is the largest single private investment project in the country, amounting to $5 billion.
Spearheaded by the Department of Energy, the Malampaya gas project is operated by Shell Philippines Exploration, B.V. (SPEX) on behalf of joint venture partners Chevron Malampaya LLC and Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC)-Exploration Corp. (EC).
Malampaya is now widely recognized as the country’s showcase of exploration and development of cleaner sources of energy to sustainably power the Philippines’ surging energy demand.
As a result, Shell was also recognized by the United Nations at the Earth Summit in Johannesburg in 2002 for advancing sustainable development in the Philippines.
Industry experts say that the Southeast Asian region is showing great promise in meeting energy needs sustainably, with proven gas reserves totaling 3.5 percent of the world’s total. Now more than ever, the Philippines can lead and not just participate in the quest for cleaner energy, steered by a government that can tap into the citizens’ growing demand for measures towards a better energy future.
On its 100th year in the Philippines, Shell continues to pioneer the future with a diversified, cleaner energy mix. It also advocates fuel efficiency as the simplest and most cost-effective way to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change. In terms of inspiring the youth toward responsible and responsive stewardship of the world’s limited resources, smarter mobility collaborations such as the Shell Eco-marathon lead innovations in applying alternative energy sources to more practical daily living.
As the company aims to meet the world’s future energy needs while espousing environmental stewardship, it enjoins consumers and businesses to use energy better — to do more with less, and to make energy conservation a way of life. As the present time brims with vast opportunities for delivering energy from cleaner sources, the outlook for sustainable energy in the next 100 years is definitely bright.