Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, October 18, 2024 – A Philippine energy delegation led by Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla met with the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei, to negotiate and finalize a memorandum of cooperation on energy transition between the two countries and to explore specific activities to implement the same.

Secretary Lotilla also met with Mohamed Hassan Abdul Rahman Al Hawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Investment, and Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, President and CEO of Masdar, a government-owned renewable energy company. The discussions focused on fostering business collaboration and attracting Emirati investments in energy infrastructure, renewable energy, and other clean energy sources.

Following its earlier energy mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the government delegation included Mr. Rafael D. Consing, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Maharlika Investment Corporation. An accompanying business delegation composed of ACEN Corporation, Aboitiz Power, Amber Kinetics, Citicore Renewable Energy Corp., and San Miguel Corporation Power Holdings, held meetings with Masdar, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) on 15 to 16 October 2024.

Masdar, one of the world’s fastest-growing renewable energy companies and a leader in green hydrogen, has developed projects in over 40 countries with a combined capacity of about 32 gigawatts. It is particularly interested in establishing solar, wind, and battery storage projects in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, ENEC has been tasked by the UAE government with delivering the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program. Working with various regional and international partners, ENEC is developing peaceful nuclear energy, including the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the first nuclear project of its kind in the Arab world. As the Philippines establishes an independent regulatory body for the safe and secure development of nuclear energy through priority legislation, ENEC can offer valuable support. It provides expertise in developing comprehensive legal and regulatory frameworks, collaborating on training programs for regulators and technical staff, advising on stakeholder engagement, and offering technical expertise.

During these meetings, Secretary Lotilla highlighted the vast investment opportunities in the Philippine energy sector, focusing on renewable energy and cleaner energy sources such as hydrogen and nuclear. He emphasized the government’s resolve to advance the clean energy transition under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s leadership, through favorable policies and incentives designed to attract both local and foreign investments, ensuring energy security and sustainability.

In the area of hydrogen, apart from efforts to offer areas for the exploration of native hydrogen, the Philippines is actively promoting hydrogen as an alternative fuel, with initiatives such as the creation of the Hydrogen Energy Industry Committee to drive investments and technology development and explore hydrogen’s role in power generation and transportation.

Native or naturally occurring hydrogen primarily forms in two major geological environments: Precambrian crystalline shields and serpentinized ultramafic rocks found in ophiolite bodies. The latter is abundant throughout the Philippines.

On the nuclear front, the government is prioritizing legislation to ensure legal and regulatory frameworks that safeguard public health, the environment, and national security. Additionally, the country is also exploring small modular reactors (SMRs) as reliable baseload power sources, particularly for off-grid areas with lower electricity demand.

The business delegation from the Philippines also engaged in parallel business-to-business sessions with Masdar, Lunate (a leading alternative investment manager headquartered in Abu Dhabi with US$105 billion in assets under management) and AMEA Power. These meetings aim to explore potential collaborations and investment opportunities in renewable energy, infrastructure, and other strategic sectors, further deepening ties between the two nations.
The DOE extends its gratitude to the Department of Foreign Affairs, chargé d’ affaires of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, Rommel Romato, the Philippine Embassy in the UAE led by Ambassador Alfonso Ferdinand A. Ver and Consul General Marford Angeles of the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, Ambassador Mohammed Obaid Alqattam Alzaabi of the UAE Embassy in Manila, as well as the Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center, for their support in facilitating this mission.

This initiative highlights the Philippines’ commitment to energy diplomacy in its pursuit of energy security and sustainable development.

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