PHILIPPINES' GEOTHERMAL USE GETTING GLOBAL RECOGNITION

2008-10-14 11:56:05 - MANILA. Washington Post cites RP as world's largest geothermal energy user

The Washington Post has cited the Philippines for its unwavering development of alternative fuel sources, particularly of geothermal energy, as it enthused that the country is now the world's top geothermal energy user in the world.

MORE PHILIPPINES NEWS: www.balitapinoy.net

In an October 4 article entitled 'Filipinos Draw Power From Buried Heat,' the respected US newspaper revealed that 'this country (Philippines) has become the world's largest consumer of electricity from geothermal sources-'

The Washington Post added that in terms of 'installed geothermal power capacity, the country (Philippines) ranks No. 2 in the world, narrowly trailing the United States, which has far more geothermal potential, far more engineering talent and far greater demand for clean sustainable power.'

The article revealed that 'geothermal power now accounts for about 28 percent of the electricity generated in the Philippines.'

'With 90 million people, about 40 percent of whom live on less than US$ 2 a day, this country has become the world's largest consumer of electricity from geothermal sources.

'Billions of dollars have been saved here because of reduced need for imported oil and coal,' continued the article which quoted Stanford University geothermal power expert Roland Horne, who had been to the Philippines more than 20 times, as stressing, thus:

'The Philippines would be in hugely worse shape without geothermal as an indigenous energy source.'

The Washington Post article -- which extolled the Philippine government's unwavering focus in the exploration and development of geothermal energy sources - pointed out that the United States government was not as consistent in its own geothermal power policies.

'But unlike in the Philippines, the government policy in the United States has been inconsistent,' the article lamented, comparing the United States government's 'short-term' geothermal energy policies with that of the Philippines' 'champion(ing) of this form of energy' since the early 70s.

The article came out five days before the Philippine government announced Thursday (Oct. 9) that oil had been found in the country's Galoc fields off the northwest tip of Palawan island.

The timely oil find was immediately announced by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's spokesman, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita: 'The President (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) is optimistic that this new development will positively impact on the administration's efforts to reduce the country's annual oil importation of US billion and, in turn, will also contain the increasing cost of food and other commodities-'

The President, a staunch advocate of alternative energy, herself enthused last Friday (Oct. 10) about the Galoc oil find in her speech before a forum attended by foreign investors.

'On energy independence, it's auspicious that we have this meeting today because yesterday (Thursday, Oct. 9), our new Galoc oil field started pumping oil to what we believe will redouble our crude oil production in our country.'

'This is part of what we have done to increase energy independence during our administration from 41 percent to 58 percent -- the highest in our history - through the greater use not only of oil exploration but of geothermal, biofuels and renewables,' President Arroyo said.

The Chief Executive added that '- with the Galoc oil field starting its production yesterday, we expect to attain 60-percent energy independence in two years.'

Malacanang's earlier announcement about the Galoc oil production said, 'Initial exploration results show that the Galoc field has reserves containing 10 to 20 million barrels, subject to further studies and exploration that can possibly result in additional yields-'

'(This) will also translate, as initially targeted, to US $1.4 billion in foreign exchange savings for the country for the well's lifetime - at least for the present development - which should be for three to five years.

'The fresh output has been described as light medium crude oil, with a potential high yield of light ends, such as gasoline. The Galoc oil will be known as Palawan Light.'

The Galoc field's 'volume of extract confirms early production targets of 17,000 to 20,000 barrels of oil per day in the first 90 days of operation. This will account for about six percent of daily local demand of 300,000 barrels per day,' Malacanang added.