Department of Energy prepares for impact of Saudi oil site attacks
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is taking steps to ensure that the country will be prepared in case the drone attacks on two Saudi Arabia oil facilities affect the country.
State-owned Aramco oil production facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais in eastern Saudi Arabia were attacked early Saturday.
The Department of Emergency called for an emergency meeting with the Electric Power Industry Management Bureau, Oil Industry Management Bureau, National Electrification Administration, National Power Corporation, Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) and PNOC Exploration Corporation last Sunday following the incident in Saudi Arabia.
"We are seeking to ensure that the energy family will be sufficiently prepared to face the potential impact of this unfortunate incident, if any, on the country," the DOE said in a statement released Monday.
The DOE is currently monitoring the situation in the Gulf state and vowed to keep the public informed of any developments.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. had expressed concern on the incident amid looming oil shortage and oil price hike.
"This is serious. It will—not could—affect us deeply; to put it bluntly, an oil shortage or steep rise in oil price will rock the Philippine boat & tip it over," Locsin tweeted.
This is serious. It will—not could—affect us deeply; to put it bluntly, an oil shortage or steep rise in oil price will rock the Philippine boat & tip it over. So everybody shut the fuck up and focus. No more clowns. Declaring state of emergency won't save our economy but kill it https://t.co/yzMvNwxkoI
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) September 15, 2019
Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen had claimed the Saturday's strikes. The United States' top diplomat, howeverm blamed Iran for the attack.
"The United States will work with our partners and allies to ensure that energy markets remain well supplied and Iran is held accountable for its aggression," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.
US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said Washington is "locked and loaded" to respond to the attacks on the Aramco oil facilities.
"Saudi Arabia oil supply was attacked. There is reason to believe that we know the culprit, are locked and loaded depending on verification, but are waiting to hear from the Kingdom as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would proceed!" Trump tweeted. — Patricia Lourdes Viray with AFP
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