Philippines Needs to Expand Natural Gas Sector

Philippines should intensify its effort to develop its natural gas sector and undertake more drilling and exploration activities to boost production, according to the head of Shell Philippines Exploration, Sebastian Quiniones.

Quiniones pointed that Philippines’ efforts in the natural gas sector paled in comparison with those of neighboring Indonesia, reports Philippine Daily Inquirer.

 “Only 566 wells have been drilled in the Philippines in the last 100 years, compared to 400 wells drilled in Indonesia in just one year, according to the Petroleum Association of the Philippines,” Quiniones said during an energy summit.

Natural gas is the preferred fuel for sustainable growth and development because it is abundant and cleaner than fossil fuel, he said.

Quiniones asked the government to boost natural gas investments in the country, such as developing a favorable investment climate through the elimination of bottlenecks, more fiscal incentives, consistency in policy and regulations, improved infrastructure and strengthened government interagency collaboration through the Executive Order 60, or the Philippine Upstream Petroleum Task Force, reports Philippine Daily Inquirer.