By Lenie Lectura -June 28, 2019
THE Department of Energy (DOE) said
late Thursday it has received 21 requests for the issuance of Area Clearances
from 11 companies that are interested to participate in the Philippine
Conventional Energy Contracting Program (PCECP).
The requests cover portions of the
Sulu Sea, Recto Bank, Palawan, Quezon, Albay and Mindoro. Of the 21 requests,
seven Area Clearances have been issued as of June 25.
Area Clearances are issued by the
DOE to inform interested parties that there is no overlap between the area/s
they are looking to explore and other energy projects or restricted areas.
Of the seven companies that have
received their Area Clearances, four have submitted their Letters of Intent for
DOE approval and subsequent publication as a PCECP-nominated area.
Meanwhile, three companies have
published their nominated areas in the Sulu Sea, Northeast Palawan, and Ragay
Gulf, and are open to receive challenges from other prospective investors.
The 60-day challenge period forthe
Sulu Sea nomination will end at 11 a.m. of August 15; the challenge period for
the Northwest Palawan nomination will end at 11 a.m. of August 18; while the
challenge period for the Ragay Gulf nomination will end at 11 a.m. of August
20.
“We need to increase exploration and
development activities in the Philippines so that our country can become energy
self-sufficient. The DOE is continuously pushing for the success of the PCECP
for the effective, responsible and reasonable development of all our indigenous
energy resources,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said.
Under the PCECP, investors may
engage in upstream exploration or development activities in two ways: One,
choosing an area from the 14 Pre-Determined Areas offered by the DOE. The
application period for the PDAs will end at 11 a.m. of August 19. Two,
proposing their own areas for exploration, which begins by requesting for an
Area Clearance.
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