QUEZON CITY, Philippines (16 May 2023) — President Marcos Jr. on Monday extended the Malampaya gas field’s service contract to 15 years, adding mandates to conduct exploratory drilling for fossil gas.
Reacting to this, Greenpeace campaigner Khevin Yu said:
“The Marcos administration, like its predecessors, says it is technology-agnostic when it comes to the energy issue; yet it is obviously biased towards dirty energy. This latest move has locked us in long-term to fossil gas—a dirty, dangerous, and costly energy source—shamelessly overturning the President’s promises to prioritize renewable energy.
“The extension of Malampaya’s contract is as unrealistic as it is risky; previous studies have already projected the depletion of the gas field as early as next year,[1] and fossil gas also produces emissions that greatly contribute to the worsening climate crisis.
“Moreover, our country’s extensive fossil gas pipeline, which includes allowing a new foreign-owned fossil gas import terminal, also exposes us to extreme price volatility of the fuel globally.[2] With fossil gas already having a huge part in our energy mix—25 percent in the Luzon grid alone—this would mean higher costs for consumers down the road, as international fuel costs are also passed onto local consumers’s electricity bills.[2]
“Meanwhile, the price of renewable energy such as wind and solar continues to be more competitive than that of fossil fuels. Moreover, these are the only resources that would safely reduce our emissions while still meeting our country’s electricity demand.
“Instead of chasing after fossil gas projects, our government should hasten a just transition towards renewable energy, which will provide more flexibility to our struggling energy system at much smaller costs.
“Fossil gas, fossil fuels, and nuclear energy are false solutions to the energy and climate crisis. These are highly-expensive, unreliable band-aids that will bleed Filipinos dry rather than solve any of our energy issues. Greenpeace reiterates our call on the government to pursue a rapid transition to renewables, with an intermediate aim of at least 50% RE by 2030, as it is the only way out of the energy crisis that will not bankrupt our citizens and further destroy our environment.”
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[1]Philippine natural gas future uncertain with Malampaya depletion | Philippine Daily Inquirer
[2]Delays of LNG terminals in the Philippines reflect supply and cost uncertainties | IEEFA
Media Contact:
Maverick Flores, Communications Campaigner
Greenpeace Philippines | [email protected] | +639176211552