Gatchalian pushes anew for energy transition as PH dependency on coal deemed high

PHILIPPINES, July 18 - Press Release
July 18, 2024

Gatchalian pushes anew for energy transition as PH dependency on coal deemed high

Senator Win Gatchalian is pushing for an energy transition measure anew as the country's dependency on coal-fired power has already surpassed that of Indonesia and China.

"An energy transition measure is necessary as the country gears towards increased use of renewable energy sources," said Gatchalian, emphasizing that the country needs to bring down its dependence on coal-fired energy.

Citing data from energy think tank Ember, Gatchalian stressed the need to come up with an energy transition measure that would push the country closer to its green energy goals. The Ember data showed that the Philippines already surpassed Indonesia and China in terms of dependence on coal-fired power as the country's share of coal in electricity generation rose for the fifteenth straight year in 2023 despite a target to cut dependence on the fuel to less than half of total power output by 2030.

Gatchalian said that from January to June this year, the average generation charge of Meralco for coal was P7.4 per kilowatt hour compared to P4.18 per kWh for solar, a rate difference of about 44 percent.

"Importante na magkaroon ang bansa ng maayos na plano para sa mas malawak na paggamit ng renewable energy at bumaba ang presyo ng kuryente," he said.

Gatchalian had earlier filed Senate Bill No.157 or the Energy Transition Act which provides for the creation of an Energy Transition Plan to achieve phaseout of fossil fuel plants and net zero emissions by 2050.

According to Gatchalian, a measure effecting an energy transition plan would help ensure the country would achieve its goal of removing coal from its energy mix by 2050.

He also emphasized an energy transition plan would help accelerate the use of renewable energy sources. This, in turn, would help reduce the cost of energy prices and the country's vulnerability to global events that tend to result in price fluctuations.

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Gatchalian muling itinulak ang energy transition habang mataas pa rin ang paggamit ng coal sa bansa

Muling itinulak ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang energy transition lalo na't nangunguna pa rin ang coal sa mga pinagkukunan ng enerhiya ng bansa. Sa katunayan, nalagpasan na ng Pilipinas ang Indonesia at China sa pagiging dependent sa coal.

"Mahalaga ang energy transition dahil ito na rin ang direksyon ng bansa pagdating sa maaasahan at mas murang halaga ng kuryente," sabi ni Gatchalian, habang binibigyang-diin ang pangangailangang mabawasan ang paggamit ng coal-fired energy sa bansa.

Kasunod ng datos mula sa energy think tank na Ember, sinabi ni Gatchalian na mahalagang magkaroon ng hakbang para sa panukalang batas na energy transition na siyang magtutulak sa bansa patungo sa layunin nitong green energy. Ipinakita ng datos ng Ember na nalagpasan na ng Pilipinas ang Indonesia at China sa pagiging dependent sa coal-fired power. Patunay dito ang pagtaas ng share ng coal sa electricity generation sa nakalipas na labing limang taon noong 2023 sa kabila ng target ng bansa na bawasan ang paggamit nito ng mas mababa sa kalahati ng kabuuang output ng kuryente pagsapit ng 2030.

Sinabi ni Gatchalian na mula Enero hanggang Hunyo ngayong taon, ang average generation charge ng Meralco sa coal ay P7.4 per kilowatt hour kumpara sa P4.18 per kWh sa solar, o rate difference na humigit-kumulang 44 porsyento.

"Importante na magkaroon ang bansa ng maayos na plano para sa mas malawak na paggamit ng renewable energy at bumaba ang presyo ng kuryente," ani Gatchalian.

Nauna nang inihain ni Gatchalian ang Senate Bill No. 157 o ang Energy Transition Act na bubuo ng isang Energy Transition Plan upang makamit ang phaseout ng fossil fuel plants at net zero emissions pagsapit ng 2050.

Dagdag pa ni Gatchalian, ang isang panukala para sa energy transition ay makakatulong sa bansa na makamit ang layunin nitong tanggalin na ang coal sa energy mix pagdating ng 2050.

Binigyang-diin din niya na ang isang energy transition plan ay makatutulong upang mapabilis ang paggamit ng renewable energy sources. Ito naman ang magiging daan upang bumaba ang presyo ng kuryente at maproteksiyunan ang bansa laban sa mga pandaigdigang kaganapan na maaaring makaapekto sa halaga ng enerhiya sa merkado.