by: John Lester Naguna
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) — The Department of Energy (DOE) and Masdar, a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based and state-owned global leader in renewable energy, on Wednesday, January 15, signed an Implementation Agreement that opens up investment opportunities available in the Philippine energy sector, particularly in renewable energy and other clean sources.
The Agreement puts into action the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Energy Transition Cooperation that the Philippines and the UAE signed in November 2024, during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s official visit to the UAE.
The deal aims to establish up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of solar, wind, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) in various parts of the Philippines by 2030.
The target is to reach 10 GW within a decade, with an estimated investment of US$15 billion.
The DOE’s Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara signed the agreement, with Masdar’s CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi also signing. Secretary Lotilla and His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, witnessed the event.
Under the Agreement, the DOE will assist Masdar in conducting pre-development activities, technical studies, securing the necessary rights, gathering project information, and obtaining all required approvals and permits. The DOE will also facilitate Masdar’s applications for investment incentives and tax exemptions.
Meanwhile, Masdar will be responsible for leading the project development, overseeing commercial, technical, financial, and environmental efforts.
“Under President Marcos Jr.’s leadership, the Philippines is integrating renewable energy into its energy mix on an unprecedented scale, ensuring energy security while fostering sustainable economic growth and environmental stewardship. This collaboration sets a new benchmark for energy transition in the region,” said Secretary Lotilla.
For his part, His Excellency Dr. Al Jaber said this partnership highlights a new stage in the long-term relationship between the UAE and the Philippines. “By leveraging UAE’s world- class expertise in renewable energy and the Philippines’ abundant natural resources, this Agreement will create jobs, drive low-carbon socio-economic progress and expand global renewable energy capacity in line with the UAE Consensus.”
For this partnership with Masdar, Secretary Lotilla highlighted its broader impact. “Beyond enhancing energy security and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, this collaboration will deliver significant economic benefits to the country, creating opportunities for job generation, drive technology transfer, and empower the local workforce with advanced skills in clean energy development. Together, we are positioning the Philippines as a regional leader in sustainable energy.” (JLN/PIA-NCR)
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