SECTOR: Energy and Environment
SONA YEAR: 2022
Pass enactment of law for natural gas
PROMISE STATUS - DATE: Stalled as of 07/17/2023
- Bills enabling the midstream natural gas industry are stalled both at the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines. The gas industry is divided in three segments:
- The upstream gas sector deals with the exploration of natural gas and crude oil.
- The midstream sector of the gas industry deals with the transportation of crude oil, natural gas, and refined products. This could be done through tankers which travel by sea or through pipelines typically installed underground.
- The downstream segment involves the refining and processing of crude oil and natural gas into refined products.
- On May 31, the House approved on second reading House Bill No. 8456, consolidating 11 proposals for the midstream and downstream gas segments.
- The bill introduces specific provisions on gas exploration, transportation, permit applications, and distribution. It creates a Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Plan.
- Two bills streamlining the midstream gas industry and another two on downstream gas are pending at the Senate Committee on Energy.