Published
By Myrna M. Velasco
As the major competitor
has already jumped the gun on them at project implementation phase, Energy
Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi indicated that he also wants to see progress in the
$2.0-billion integrated liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal and
gas-fired power projects being led by Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. of
businessman Dennis Uy.
The Uy-owned
company has two other partners – China National Offshore Oil Corporation
(CNOOC) and Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) – in the Tanglawan
Philippine LNG Inc., the corporate vehicle of the proposed 2.3 million tons per
annum (mtpa) LNG terminal and 800 to 1,000-megawatt power plant.
Cusi admitted that he
has not been given notice or update information yet on when the Tanglawan
projects will break ground – despite previous indications that such should have
been accomplished as early as first quarter of 2019.
“I have not received
any information yet,” Cusi told reporters when asked on the groundbreaking or
implementation timeframe of the other $2.0 billion worth of integrated LNG
investments.
The Department of
Energy (DOE) issued notices to proceed (NTP) to at least three LNG import
terminal projects – including the venture pushed ahead by Energy World
Corporation (EWC); and that of the $1.0-billion LNG terminal project of First
Gen Corporation which already broke ground last month and is getting headway
into construction stage.
Cusi noted that the
department had given more than one permit for LNG import installations,
“because the horizon is wide, especially in our transition to cleaner energy
sources in the island-provinces.”
At application point,
Tanglawan was initially perceived as the “most aggressive” and “most advance”
when it comes to project plans – but concretizing investment blueprints had so
far stalled for the Phoenix-CNOOC-PNOC triumvirate.
PNOC indicated that it
was on another round of meeting with Phoenix Petroleum last week, although the
details of discussions or negotiations had been kept under wraps. The last
statement given to the media was for the parties firming up “equity sharing” in
the Tanglawan joint venture as well as finalizing the project site for the LNG
terminal and the power generating facility.
For both Phoenix
Petroleum and CNOOC, they have looked at the Tianjin LNG terminal of CNOOC as a
potential template for the development to be pursued in the Philippines.
The Tanglawan LNG
project is also eyed to be on commercial stream in 2023 – a parallel timeframe
to the target of industry competitors when it comes to setting their LNG
facilities on-line.
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