| By Donnabelle L. Gatdula (The Philippine Star) Updated March 07, 2011 12:00 AM |
MANILA, Philippines - The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) may consider adding liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plants into its power generation portfolio, a ranking company official said over the weekend.
Meralco chief operating officer Oscar Reyes said they have started exploring talks with potential partners for its possible LNG venture. “We are in early stages of discussions with LNG players and partners,” he said.
According to Reyes, engaging in LNG would allow them to further diversify their portfolio.
“I think the country has to diversify its generation plants so that we are not heavily reliant on a single type,” he said.
He said they would also be studying carefully how to engage in LNG projects.
“I think that could be part of the LNG here but we have to look at whether it’s more cost effective to repower rather than to build new plants,” he said.
The Meralco official said they would be coordinating closely with the Department of Energy (DOE) to be able to complement the government’s plan of action on LNG development.
“The only ones you could convert into a gas-fired power plant are the old plants like the Sucat and Malaya. We are in discussions with DOE,” he said.
The DOE eyes LNG as one of the solutions to reduce the country’s dependence to imported oil.
The government is eyeing to put up a gas pipeline from Batangas all the way to Subic.
The first part of the pipeline project is Batangas-Manila gas pipeline (Batman 1).
The DOE is also planning to have an integrated Bataan LNG terminal, and several LNG-fired power plants.
According to the DOE, putting up these vital energy infrastructures will expand the use of natural gas beyond the power sector, making the environment friendly, competitively priced and efficient fuel available to the industrial, commercial and transport sectors and eventually to the households.
Meralco chief operating officer Oscar Reyes said they have started exploring talks with potential partners for its possible LNG venture. “We are in early stages of discussions with LNG players and partners,” he said.
According to Reyes, engaging in LNG would allow them to further diversify their portfolio.
“I think the country has to diversify its generation plants so that we are not heavily reliant on a single type,” he said.
He said they would also be studying carefully how to engage in LNG projects.
“I think that could be part of the LNG here but we have to look at whether it’s more cost effective to repower rather than to build new plants,” he said.
The Meralco official said they would be coordinating closely with the Department of Energy (DOE) to be able to complement the government’s plan of action on LNG development.
“The only ones you could convert into a gas-fired power plant are the old plants like the Sucat and Malaya. We are in discussions with DOE,” he said.
The DOE eyes LNG as one of the solutions to reduce the country’s dependence to imported oil.
The government is eyeing to put up a gas pipeline from Batangas all the way to Subic.
The first part of the pipeline project is Batangas-Manila gas pipeline (Batman 1).
The DOE is also planning to have an integrated Bataan LNG terminal, and several LNG-fired power plants.
According to the DOE, putting up these vital energy infrastructures will expand the use of natural gas beyond the power sector, making the environment friendly, competitively priced and efficient fuel available to the industrial, commercial and transport sectors and eventually to the households.
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