29 November 2018, Calgary - “There are great potentials for energy cooperation between the Philippines and the Province of Alberta, Canada.”

 

This was the gist of the presentation given by Deputy Consul General (DCG) Zaldy Patron to the officials of the Department of Energy (DOE), Philippine National Oil Corporation (PNOC) and PNOC-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC) on 27 November 2018 at the DOE office in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

 

The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Calgary sent DCG Patron to Manila on official travel to promote energy cooperation between the Philippines and Alberta, one of the two Canadian provinces under the PCG’s jurisdiction.

 

DCG Patron gave the presentation to the DOE’s Undersecretary Donato Marcos, Assistant Secretary Leonido Pulido, Jr., Chief Investment Specialist Lisa Go and Chief Science Research Specialist Ma. Laura Saguin, the PNOC’s Department Manager Adalia Endaya, and the PNOC-EC Vice President Jaime Bacud.

 

With the anticipated depletion of the Malampaya gas reserves by 2024, DCG Patron told DOE and PNOC officials that the Philippines could look at Alberta, Canada’s energy capital, as supplier of liquified natural gas (LNG).   He explained that LNG has been part of Canada’s energy mix since 1859 and that Canada has the fifth largest gas reserves in the world.  Alberta has identified LNG, LPG and crude oil as among its high growth potential export sectors to Asia.

 

DCG Patron also invited DOE and PNOC to consider attending the Global Petroleum Show (GPS) in Calgary on 11-13 June 2019 so they could expand their network in the global oil and gas industry.   GPS, held in Calgary every June of each year, is North America’s leading exhibition and conference on gas and oil, attracting about 50,000 international and domestic oil & gas executives from over 20,000 companies.  An estimated $6 billion worth of business deals are concluded during this exhibition.  More than 100 industry leading experts share their knowledge and understanding during the various strategic and technical conference sessions.

 

Lastly, DCG Patron discussed the possible collaboration among the DOE and PNOC 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.