Energy Crisis in the Philippines

The Philippines is facing a mounting energy crisis as the Malampaya gas fields deplete, supplying
30% of Luzon`s energy consumption, are expected to be depleted by 2024. An ever increasing
population, an Administration-mandated infrastructure boom, and some of the highest electricity costs
in S.E. Asia all combine to present formidable challenges.

Since the early ‘90s, the Philippines has always been prone to recurring power shortages. Power
interruptions commonly occur during the summer months, when electric power plants run low on
dispatchable reserves due to increased electricity demand. In 2019 alone, almost 10 “yellow alert”
status have been issued by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, indicating that operating
reserves of electric power plants have dropped below the required generating capacity. While this didn’t
result in rolling brownouts, there were still power outages that have been reported in some parts of the
country.

By all accounts, we are potentially facing a looming energy crisis in the next few years, as a
result of the country’s rapid increase in population, urbanization, and industrialization. The perennial
problem has worsened, now exacerbated by climate change, which is the direct result of our
dependence on coal for energy security. The crisis we face now is how to satisfy this increased energy
demand without worsening our impact to climate change.