Philippine National Oil Company

Yang 04:23 AM, Jul 28, 2021

Hi! I am Angelica Yang, a reporter from BusinessWorld. 

I would like to request for updates on PNOC's feasibility study on using deuterium as a possible energy source. Is the study ongoing or has it already been completed? What are the findings, if ever? 

Thank you!

08:47 AM, Jul 28, 2021

July 28, 2021

Dear Angelica,

Thank you for your request dated Jul 28, 2021 04:23:21 AM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for Update on PNOC's study on using deuterium as a possible energy source.

We received your request on Jul 28, 2021 04:23:21 AM and will respond on or before Aug 18, 2021 04:23:21 AM, in accordance with the Executive Order's implementing rules and regulations.

Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact me using the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHgsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEVBOT0MtNTQzMzAwMzM3MDE3DA, for request with ticket number #PNOC-543300337017.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

Ms. Katrine Arielle Bernabe-Alvarado
FOI Officer

02:33 PM, Aug 06, 2021

06 August 2021

Dear Ms. Angelica Yang:

Greetings!

Thank you for your request dated July 28, 2021 under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.

Your request

You asked for:
“I would like to request for updates on PNOC's feasibility study on using deuterium as a possible energy source. Is the study ongoing or has it already been completed? What are the findings, if ever?”

Response to your request

•	“I would like to request for updates on PNOC's feasibility study on using deuterium as a possible energy source.”

PNOC’s study regarding deuterium’s feasibility as fuel is currently in the conceptual phase. To offer a quick glance on what PNOC is doing, Deuterium is a hydrogen isotope; it differs from the more naturally occurring hydrogen isotope (protium) because it contains a neutron.  Deuterium occurs in about 1/6400 hydrogen atoms. This means that if deuterium can be used as fuel, it has to be separated first from the water as deuterium oxide which adds another process in contrast with protium as regular water. 

•	“Is the study ongoing or has it already been completed?”

The study is ongoing.

•	“What are the findings, if ever?”

The study is still ongoing thus it is early to provide findings at this time. Technologically speaking though, deuterium as fuel has not been widely researched and has only been used for nuclear fusion reactor prototypes. This fact has steered the feasibility study to center on using the more dominant hydrogen isotope, protium, which is found in regular water.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by writing to President Reuben S. Lista, through postal address: Philippine National Oil Company, Building 6, Energy Center, Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig 1634, Metro Manila, Philippines or contact PNOC through telephone number: (+63 2) 87897662. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 working days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result, within 30 working days from the date when we receive your review request.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).

Thank you.

Respectfully,


Maria Belinda L. Cubelo
FOI Decision Maker