Published September 17, 2018, 10:00
PM By Myrna
M. Velasco
Following last week’s board meeting
of Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation (PNOC), Energy
Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi has directed the state-run subsidiary to submit to
him the details drawn up on the proposed P3 billion Russian diesel import plan.
“They had their board meeting
(on Tuesday, September 11), so I am now asking them to submit all the details
relating to the importation (of diesel),” the energy chief said.
The particular information and
implementation plan he wanted fleshed out in the report that PNOC-EC shall
lodge at his table will be the timeline of importation as well as the logistics
and handling of the products upon reaching the country – and up to the point
when these will already be retailed at the pumps.
“I want them (PNOC-EC) to provide me
the timeline… like when exactly are they really intending to do the
importation,” Cusi stressed.
He added that he is also taking the
company to task on how it will eventually carry out the distribution of the
diesel fuel as well as trading them to targeted buyers.
“I want everything, all information
related to the importation – because they cannot just order and will not know
later on how to distribute it across the chain,” Cusi said.
The energy secretary explained that
he is requiring all these details because he wants to ensure that this is also
done within the legal bounds and the juggernaut of the deregulated state of the
Philippine oil industry.
PNOC-EC previously apprised media that
it will be spending P2 billion to P3 billion on the diesel importation
undertaking – which it previously targeted to be sourced from Russia. The main
target market for the diesel imports will be the public utility vehicles (PUVs)
as well as industries.
The DOE though is more open-minded
when it comes to fuel sourcing, that if government-sanctioned importation is
really warranted, it opined that procurement options shall not just be limited
to Russia.
Product pricing and fuel quality
standards are other concerns being raised by the downstream oil industry
players – especially with pronouncements from the DOE on optional sale of
Euro-2 fuel at the pumps.
The Russia diesel importation is an
alternative that even Malacanang has also contemplated upon as fuel prices have
been continuously making dent on consumers’ pockets.
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