PALAWAN PROVINCE – Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi together with Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos yesterday (24 July) visited the Access to Energy (A2E) Microgrid Project of Shell Philippines located in Sitio Binaluan, Barangay Liminangcong in the Municipality of Taytay. 

Binaluan is home to 509 Palaweños, including members of the Tagbanua Tandulanen indigenous peoples (IPs), and is within the Impact Zones of the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project, which fuels around 40% of Luzon’s electricity needs.  

A rural electrification project, Pilpinas Shell Foundation ‘s A2E utilizes renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydro to provide power to households without immediate prospects of being connected to any electricity grid in the province. Priority beneficiaries are IPs and homes situated in coastal barangays in north Palawan; communities nearest to the Malampaya offshore facilities. For the Binaluan A2E Project, the microgrid has a power capacity of 7.5 kilowatt (KW) of solar, 5 KW of wind, and 10 kilovolt-amperes of diesel. 

Secretary Cusi said, “While the energy family is working to address the bleak power situation in Palawan, projects like this A2E of Pilipinas Shell Foundation , is a welcome development given the big impact they have on the lives of our kababayans living in remote areas with no access to electricity services especially since Palawan is host to Malampaya.” 

Also present during the visit were representatives of Shell Philippines led by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. Managing Director and General Manager, Don Paulino; SPEX External Relations Manager Paulo Gavino; Marvi Trudeau and Yoyon Rebueno of Pilipinas Shell Foundation; President of the Binaluan Energy Association, Mr. Lionil Severino; and members of the Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

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