Philippine senator urges action to cut coal use

The Philippines needs to reduce its reliance on coal-fired power generation by enhancing the use of renewables, according to the chairman of the Senate committee on energy Win Gatchalian.

Gatchalian called for firm energy transition measures, emphasising the importance of a proper plan for wider use of renewable energy and lower electricity prices. He believes an energy transition plan would help accelerate the use of renewable energy sources and reduce energy prices and vulnerability to global events. The average generation cost of coal-fired power by utility Manila Electric was 7.40 pesos/kWh ($0.13/kWh), while the cost for solar power generation is 44pc lower at Ps4.18/kWh, Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian had earlier proposed legislation in the Senate, the Energy Transition Act, which plans to phase out fossil fuel plants and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

The Philippines has surpassed Indonesia and China on coal-fired power generation reliance with a 61.9pc share in its 2023 generation, Gatchalian said, citing energy think-tank Ember.Its coal-fired generation was 16.7TWh over January-March this year, up by 8.4pc from 15.4TWh a year earlier, according to data from National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.

The Philippines' thermal coal imports reached an all-time monthly high in May as heatwaves spurred power demand and coal consumption at utilities.

By Nadhir Mokhtar