Humihingi ang Pilipinas ng mas malaking private investment para pondohan ang clean energy transition ng Southeast Asia, habang tinatayang aabot sa $150 bilyon kada taon ang kailangang kapital para sa renewable energy, power grids at iba pang malinis na teknolohiya pagsapit ng 2030.
Ginawa ni Energy Secretary Sharon Garin ang panawagan sa pagbubukas ng 2026 ASEAN Energy Business Forum sa Pasay City nitong Martes, October 6, kasabay ng 44th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting na bahagi ng chairmanship ng Pilipinas sa Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Ayon sa ASEAN Centre for Energy, mangangailangan ang rehiyon ng humigit-kumulang $200 bilyong total energy investment kada taon pagsapit ng 2030. Sa halagang ito, nasa $150 bilyon ang kailangan para sa clean energy infrastructure, grid upgrades at renewable technologies.
“Policy can set the direction and create the conditions for progress, but policy cannot exist in a vacuum,” ani Garin. “In turn, investment, innovation, and partnership must transform policy into reality.”
Binigyang-diin niyang lumalaki ang electricity demand kasabay ng pag-angat ng mga ekonomiya sa ASEAN, kaya kailangan ding madagdagan ang bagong energy infrastructure para sa industries, cities, businesses at communities.
“The scale of that challenge is significant,” ani Garin. “Mobilizing capital at this scale will require credible projects, enabling policies, effective risk-sharing, and investment frameworks that can move capital where it is needed.”
Kabilang sa nakikitang investment opportunities ang cross-border electricity trade, expansion ng ASEAN Power Grid, battery energy storage, digitalization at sustainable fuels.
Malaki rin ang potensyal ng rehiyon sa solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal at bioenergy na hindi pa lubusang nade-develop.
Pero nilinaw ni Garin na hindi puwedeng iisang template ang gamitin sa energy transition ng lahat ng ASEAN members dahil magkakaiba ang resources, existing power systems at socioeconomic conditions ng bawat bansa.
“There will be no single pathway for every country,” ani Garin.
“As energy demand grows alongside our economies, ASEAN must ensure that the transition supports inclusive economic growth, attracts investment, harnesses innovation and emerging technologies, and strengthens the security and resilience of our energy systems,” dagdag niya.
Para sa kalihim, dapat sabay na isulong ang emissions reduction, energy security, resilience, investment at economic growth.
“Our pathways may differ, but our progress will depend on how effectively we move together,” sabi ni Garin.
Kailangan din aniyang maging predictable ang policies, transparent ang regulation at malinaw ang commercial structures at project pipelines para mahikayat ang investors.
Hindi rin sapat ang iisang source ng financing dahil sa laki ng pangangailangan ng ASEAN. Kakailanganin ang public at private capital, institutional investors, commercial lenders at development finance.
Sa harap ng mabilis na paglaki ng power demand at pressure na mag-decarbonize, target ng ASEAN na palakasin ang regional cooperation habang pinapayagan ang bawat bansa na sundin ang energy transition path na akma sa sariling resources at pangangailangan. /Bistado