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US approves funds to modernize Philippine energy sector

Posted on by darion

USTDA, which announced the grant award at the 6th Indo-Pacific Business Forum held in Manila on Tuesday, said these innovations could help integrate renewable energy sources, increase the quality and resilience of services, and reduce losses and technical costs.

MANILA, Philippines – The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has approved the release of funds that will support efforts to modernize and expand the electricity transmission and distribution network in the Philippines.

This support will be provided by bringing delegations of government officials and private sector utilities to the United States to observe innovations and best practices in smart grid technologies.

USTDA, which announced the grant award at the 6th Indo-Pacific Business Forum held in Manila on Tuesday, said these innovations could help integrate renewable energy sources, increase the quality and resilience of services, and reduce losses and technical costs.

In a digital press conference, USTDA Director Enoh Ebong said that USTDA intends to engage with the Philippines’ energy industry and, in fact, is already doing so.

“We have undertaken projects in the area of ​​clean wind energy, geothermal energy, and we are discovering more all the time. “Our conversations are ongoing as we try to identify the scope of projects where we can bring American innovations, technologies, goods and services to truly advance the goals and objectives of – and achieve them – our partners,” she said.

U.S. senior official for East Asia and the Pacific Economic Cooperation Matt Murray said that during APEC Economic Leaders Week in November, the United States and the Philippines signed the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, or Agreement 123, which supports expanded cooperation on energy zero emissions and non-proliferation.

“Today at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum, we also welcomed a new partnership in this area, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Department of Energy of the Philippines to develop and implement a comprehensive civil nuclear energy policy. So in this area, it’s really important to note some of the progress we’re making with the Philippines,” Murray said.