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Introduction
Changing the trend, the Philippines has emerged as the most coal-reliant country in Asia, outpacing China. This further highlights the challenge that the country still faces in trying to meet its energy needs while seeking to preserve the environment.
Rising Coal Dependency
According to CNBC, the Philippines is now the third largest coal dependent country in the world with coal powering more than half of the country’s electricity. This change is attributed to the increasing power requirement and the slow pace in development of the renewable energy supply.
Factors Driving Coal Use
Several factors contribute to the Philippines’ heightened coal dependency:Several factors contribute to the Philippines’ heightened coal dependency:
Energy Demand Surge: Developing the country’s economy, particularly industrialization, has created a need for stable power sources.
Infrastructure Challenges: The construction of renewable energy has been slow and expensive, and coal has become the easiest option.
Policy Gaps: This paper identified the inconsistent policies and the difficult regulatory environment as the factors that have kept cleaner energy sources from being fully embraced.
Environmental and Economic Implications
The increased reliance on coal has significant environmental and economic repercussions:
Environmental Impact: Higher coal utilization results in more greenhouse gas emissions, worsening climate change and air quality.
Economic Costs: It has, over the years, had to rely on the importation of coal which has a negative impact on the national budget and also makes Egypt vulnerable to the fluctuations of the international market.
Schemes by the Government and Future Prospects
Despite the challenges, the Philippine government is taking steps to address the energy crisis.
Renewable Energy Targets: The Department of Energy (DOE) has planned to raise the share of renewable energy to 35% by the year 2030.
Policy Reforms: Work is in progress to rationalize the approval requirements for renewable energy projects and attract investments.
Conclusion
The trend of the Philippines’ increasing coal consumption shows the necessity of formulating a well-coordinated energy policy that would meet the country’s energy needs in the future. Boosting renewable energy sources and implementing the right policies is vital for a sustainable energy future and the country’s energy security.
Source: Philippines overtakes China and Indonesia to be most dependent on coal-generated power