(The Philippine Star) | Updated December 11, 2017 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines —
The Department of Energy (DOE) is declaring the planned $2-billion liquefied
natural gas (LNG) terminal part of the lineup of projects of national
significance under Executive Order 30.
DOE Secretary Alfonso
Cusi said the agency is preparing a list of power projects that will be under
EO 30 as long as these developments have a high social impact.
“We haven’t declared
any project yet, but there are projects lined up,” he said.
The energy chief said
one project to be declared under EO 30 is the LNG hub.
“We will put it under
EO 30, projects of national significance. So once everything is in order and it
is approved, development will soon follow,” Cusi said.
EO 30 provides that
government agencies concerned with energy projects should presume other
agencies were able to act upon and issue their respective permits within a
30-day period.
It created the Energy
Investment Coordinating Council, to be led by the DOE, which will spearhead and
coordinate national government efforts to harmonize, integrate and streamline
regulatory processes, requirements and forms relevant to the development of
energy investments in the country.
Placing the project
under EO 30 will allow the LNG terminal to start construction within 2018.
“We’re trying to meet
our groundbreaking target next year to make it operational before 2022, or
before the depletion of the Malampaya gas project,” Cusi said.
The DOE has tasked its
corporate arm Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) to spearhead the development
of the country’s integrated LNG hub, consisting of five million metric tons per
annum of storage, liquefaction, regassification and distribution facility, as
well as a reserve initial power plant capacity of 200 megawatts (MW).
PNOC is currently
evaluating unsolicited proposals from three foreign investors, namely Korea
Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), Lloyds Energy Group and China National Offshore
Oil Co. (CNOOC).
It is also in talks
with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to become its consultant for its planned
LNG project.
Further supporting the
development of the country’s LNG sector is the signed guiding policy on the
natural gas industry to meet the country’s goal of becoming the LNG trading and
trans-shipment hub in the Asia Pacific region.
Cusi recently signed
Department Circular 2017-11-0012 called Philippine Downstream Natural Gas
Regulation which details the rules and regulations governing the downstream
natural gas industry to develop a market and gain energy security and
sustainability.
The DOE will have the
overall responsibility in promoting and supervising the development and
operation of the downstream natural gas industry.
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