Jera collaborates with AOTS to spearhead LNG adoption in Philippines
Japanese utility giant Jera has signed an agreement with Japan's Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS) to provide support for the adoption of LNG in the Philippines, it said on December 25.
The partnership follows Jera's selection as the contracted party for a project focusing on system design and support for LNG implementation in the Southeast Asian nation.
As the Philippines experiences robust economic growth, the electricity demand is on the rise, prompting a shift towards gas-fired thermal power generation. Simultaneously, the decline in domestically produced natural gas has made the full-scale adoption of LNG a pressing issue for both supply and demand in the country.
Under the newly formed agreement, Jera is set to undertake several initiatives, including assessing demand, evaluating environmental impact, and developing national systems and regulatory frameworks to support the comprehensive adoption of LNG in the Philippines.
Jera will support the development of regulations concerning the construction, operation, and maintenance of LNG storage and regasification terminals, gas transportation and distribution systems. This will also extend to facilitating third-party access.
The company will assist in drafting national regulations for the Philippines related to LNG and natural gas, ensuring a cohesive and regulatory environment for the industry. Jera will also evaluate natural gas demand and assess the feasibility of establishing a power generation station/boiler in the Batangas Special Economic Zone.
The collaboration will involve a life cycle assessment of the environmental impact associated with the adoption of natural gas, aligning with global efforts toward sustainability.
Jera will actively share its extensive expertise in LNG and natural gas with stakeholders and relevant parties in the Philippines, fostering a collaborative approach to the adoption of cleaner energy solutions.
Highlighting its commitment to environmental responsibility, Jera will undertake these initiatives under its Jera Zero CO2 Emissions 2050 initiative. The company aims to achieve carbon neutrality in its domestic and international operations by 2050.