The Philippines is exploring possible energy cooperation with the Province of Alberta, Canada’s energy capital, in anticipation of Malampaya’s gas reserves depletion by 2024.
“There are great potentials for energy cooperation between the Philippines and the Province of Alberta, Canada,” Deputy Philippine Consul General in Calgary Zaldy Patron said in a statement.
Patron was recently in Manila where he made presentations with officials of the Department of Energy (DOE), Philippine National Oil Corporation (PNOC) and PNOC-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC) to promote energy cooperation between the Philippines and Alberta.
Alberta is one of the two Canadian provinces under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Consulate General in Calgary.
Patron said the Philippines could look at Alberta as a supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG), an energy source that has been part of Canada’s energy mix since 1859. Canada has the fifth largest gas reserves in the world.
The Province of Alberta has identified LNG, LPG and crude oil as among its high growth potential export sectors to Asia.
Patron invited DOE and PNOC to attend the Global Petroleum Show (GPS) in Calgary on June 11-13, 2019 so they could expand their network in the world oil and gas industry.
Held in Calgary every June, the GPS is North America’s leading exhibition and conference on gas and oil, attracting about 50,000 international and domestic oil and gas executives from over 20,000 companies.
Patron noted that an estimated US$6 billion worth of business deals are concluded during this exhibition, and more than 100 industry leading experts share their knowledge and understanding during the various strategic and technical conference sessions.
Additionally, Patron discussed possible collaboration between the Philippines and the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta, two leading universities in Alberta offering energy-related courses and programs, to train Philippine energy officials.
Those who attended Patron’s presentation were Energy Undersecretary Donato Marcos, Assistant Secretary Leonido Pulido Jr., chief investment specialist Lisa Go and chief science research specialist Ma. Laura Saguin. PNOC, on the other hand, was represented by department manager Adalia Endaya, and the PNOC-EC vice president Jaime Bacud.
