Out-Law / Your Daily Need-To-Know

Philippines’ new hydrogen energy-focused agencies will streamline projects’ development

04 Jun 2024, 2:42 pm

The Philippines’ Department of Energy (DoE) has established the Hydrogen Energy Industry Committee (HEIC) and the Hydrogen Inspection and Monitoring Team (HIMT) to oversee the development of hydrogen energy-related projects.

William Stroll, a corporate law expert at Pinsent Masons MPillay, the Singapore joint law venture between MPillay and Pinsent Masons, said that the establishment of the new independent bodies was an important step for the Philippines in its hydrogen journey. He also noted that the establishment of independent bodies to oversee hydrogen energy related projects in the Philippines would streamline the development of such projects and help the country more efficiently meet its net-zero goals.

According to the DoE, the purpose of the HEIC is to help implement the country’s ‘hydrogen energy guidelines’ which cover the Philippines’ national hydrogen energy policy and include a regulatory framework and ‘hydrogen energy industry roadmap’.

Ensuring projects are delivered according to the guidelines – which were announced in January – the HEIC’s responsibilities include approving proposals and agreements for research studies, recommending sanctions, fines and penalties where violations of the guidelines occur, and providing updates to relevant authorities on the hydrogen energy industry’s progress.

The HEIC will also establish a ‘hydrogen technical working group’ which will focus on the technical aspects of the development of the hydrogen energy industry. The group will be made up of technical experts from relevant government agencies, industries and research institutions.

According to the DoE, the newly created HIMT will be responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance within the hydrogen energy industry in the form of site visits and inspections, and regular verification and evaluation of the information provided by hydrogen energy industry participants.

“The Philippines has previously announced plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% relative to business-as-usual levels by 2030 and streamlining the process of developing hydrogen energy related developments and projects will be important for the country in meeting this goal,” Stroll said.