Huge potential seen in Philippine energy transition

MANILA, Philippines — Japanese energy solutions provider Mitsubishi Power sees huge growth potential in the Philippine energy sector as the country transitions to cleaner energy sources.

Mitsubishi Power, a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has committed to support the country’s decarbonization by providing a suite of industry-leading technologies and a deep understanding of the local landscape.

Akihiro Ondo, managing director and chief executive officer of Mitsubishi Power Asia Pacific, told The STAR that the company is working closely with countries in Southeast Asia to spur the adoption of clean fuel alternatives.

Ondo said Mitsubishi Power is actively engaged in several significant projects and initiatives in the region as well as in the Philippines.

“In the near term, we hope to drive adoption of our advanced gas turbines to enhance efficiency of natural gas in the Philippines,” Ondo said.

“We look forward to collaborating with local government and industry players to drive adoption of these decarbonization technologies towards achieving the nation’s decarbonization and energy transition goals,” he said.

Ondo lauded the Philippines for making significant progress in stepping up initiatives toward adopting cleaner energy sources.

In recent years, he said the country has announced ambitious roadmaps to develop and use existing and emerging technologies, opened its doors to liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, and set ambitious renewable energy targets.

“There is much potential for progress. However, to ensure that it continues to meet the nation’s growing energy demand while building a future of sustainable energy, the Philippines will need to pursue a variety of approaches in parallel – including improving the efficiency of existing facilities, leveraging new technologies, and pursuing cleaner and renewable energy resources,” Ondo said.

The Mitsubishi Power executive said the country’s journey towards energy transition is a comprehensive endeavor that can only be accomplished through collaboration.

“To navigate the technical, societal, and governmental challenges posed by a fundamental shift in a nation’s power generation infrastructure, unprecedented level of innovation, creativity and partnerships will be needed across industries and geographies to collectively achieve the ambitious goal of reaching its decarbonization targets,” Ondo said.

“Having collaborated closely with local partners in the Philippine’s energy industry for over four decades to address the energy needs of the country, we are well-positioned to drive collaboration with the government and power sector,” he said.