Hydrogen blocks exploration gets investor interest

By Alena Mae S. Flores – June 16, 2024, 7:30 pm
from manilastandard.net

The Department of Energy (DOE) said over the weekend Australian, European and North American companies have expressed interest in hydrogen blocks located in Zambales province.

DOE Undersecretary Alessandro Sales said the agency conducted roadshows to drum up interest in the country’s hydrogen and petroleum blocks which close on August 27.

“We were pleasantly surprised at the level of interest with our areas we are bidding out for hydrogen exploration. There were numerous companies from Australia, Europe and North America that have expressed their interest to participate in bidding for these hydrogen contracts,” Sales said.

“These hydrogen contracts are in fact novel in today’s world because apparently, it’s only the Philippines that has bid an area purposely for hydrogen exploration,” he said.

The DOE is offering two pre-determined areas for native hydrogen exploration adjacent to the northern portion of the Zambales Ophiolite Complex and the western portion of Central Luzon were also offered.

PDA-PH-1 in the provinces of Zambales and Pangasinan covers an estimated 134,096 hectares while PDA-PH-2 spans 96,439 hectares.

Sales said Japan and China are moving forward with hydrogen but from a different point of view—manufacturing hydrogen.

“What we’re doing is enabling the other side of it, producing naturally occurring hydrogen,” Sales said.

The DOE opened the bid round for hydrogen exploration in February.

“We invite local and foreign investors to be our partners in achieving energy security and self-sufficiency in the region and the entire Philippines, “ Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said during the launch.

Sales earlier said the DOE would select applicants who could demonstrate a good understanding of the possible resource potential of these areas and would carry out a work program to efficiently map and test its potential.