Demand for natural gas growing globally
SEN. Raffy Tulfo, chairperson of the Committee on Energy, presides over the public hearing on three proposed measures that seek to regulate the country’s midstream and downstream natural gas industry.
According to Tulfo, the bills will help shape the future of the natural gas industry amid the rapidly evolving role of natural gas in the nation’s energy mix.
“Regulating the natural gas industry is a matter of national interest. It’s about ensuring that as we transition from indigenous sources like Malampaya to importation of liquefied natural gas (LNG), we have a robust, transparent and efficient system in place,” Tulfo said Thursday, August 10, 2023.
The midstream natural gas sector primarily deals with the transportation, storage and wholesale marketing of natural gas, while the downstream sector covers the final processing, distribution and sale of natural gas to consumers and industries
Senate Bill No. 2247 is an act promoting the development of thePhilippine downstream natural gas industry, consolidating for the purpose all laws relating to the transmission, distribution, and supply of natural gas, and appropriating funds therefore.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian for his part calls for a national policy governing the Philippines’ midstream natural gas industry in the said hearing of the Committee on Energy.
Gatchalian batted for the adoption of Senate Bill No. 152 which seeks to address legislative gaps in the regulation of the country’s natural gas industry.
The senator said that while there is a Department of Energy circular for the sector, there is no law covering midstream activities, specifically the liquefaction, transportation, regasification, storage and transmission of natural gas.
Gatchalian said SBN 152 “was written from the ground up,” having consulted energy regulators, powerplant operators, as well as potential investors in crafting the bill. “Owing to the intricacy of the midstream natural gas industry, comprehensive legislation is needed to fill in the gaps and strengthen existing bridge policies in order to unlock the potential of natural gas as a vital source of energy for the country,” Gatchalian said.
Natural gas is said to be the safest and cleanest-burning hydrocarbon that can meet the growing demand for energy globally with renewable energy sources which can be converted to make lower-emission fuels and other products.
