MANILA, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The Philippine Department of
Energy said on Friday it has signed a memorandum of
understanding with Australia-based research and development firm
Star Scientific Ltd to explore the potential of hydrogen as an
energy source in the country.
The Southeast Asian country, which is heavily dependent on
imported coal and fuel oil, hopes to be able to utilise hydrogen
as a fuel for vehicles and a part of its future energy mix.
The use of hydrogen worldwide, mainly utilised in oil
refining and to produce ammonia for fertilisers, is expected to
grow in the future, with demand seen coming from the transport,
building and power generation sectors.
"I have often said that there could be a lot of potential
for hydrogen for the local industry given that it is seen as the
fuel of the future," Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a
statement.
Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp SHLPH.PS is constructing an
integrated hydrogen manufacturing facility at its Tabangao
refinery in the Philippines, which has been converted into an
import terminal. The MOU with Star Scientific states that the Philippine
government and its Australian partner "will investigate hydrogen
production in the Philippines in an effort to make the country
energy independent so as to significantly reduce the country's
CO2 emissions".
Robert Briggs, senior advisor to the executive chairman of
Star Scientific, said the company offered a breakthrough
technology called Hydrogen Energy Release Optimiser, which
converts hydrogen into heat without combustion.