Takeaways from AP's report on Philippines governor's interest in natural gas
An influential politician in the Philippines who supported expansion of natural gas power is behind a company that planned to make a fortune from it, an Associated Press investigation has found
BATANGAS, Philippines — The Philippines is engaged in a major buildout of natural gas power at a time when scientists say the world needs to urgently phase out fossil fuel use because of climate change. Analysts say Filipinos will likely pay more for their electricity and that additional future needs could have been met with clean renewables.
An Associated Press investigation found that a major cheerleader for natural gas, Gov. Hermilando Mandanas of Batangas province, stood to benefit from the buildout.
Here are key takeaways from AP's report:
The government has ambitions for making the Philippines a liquified natural gas hub for the Asia-Pacific region. And Batangas province is at the heart of where it’s happening.
Four gas power plants lie along the coastline about two hours south of the capital Manila, and four more are planned. Six new terminals for importing the chilled and liquified gas are on the way or already operating.
Mandanas told the AP that the electricity is badly needed for development that will benefit all of the Philippines.
Mandanas owned the largest share in a real estate firm, AbaCore Capital Holdings Inc., that soared in value as energy companies moved in. The governor promoted the expansion in media interviews and public events. And AbaCore launched its own natural gas project.
Mandanas led a takeover of AbaCore in the 1980s, building it into a real estate behemoth beyond its original interests in mining and gaming. When he was elected governor in 2016, he stepped down as CEO and his wife, Regina Reyes,
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