9 firms advanced interests in LNG pre-bid process

A mix of well-entrenched and new energy firms have advanced interests in the pre-bid conference set by the Department of Energy (DOE) on the country’s bid of setting up its liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility as well as related infrastructure assets.

Based on the list released by the Department of Energy, the interested parties were a combination of local and foreign firms, namely: Cleanway Energy Dept. Corp., First Gen Corporation, Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd., China National Offshore Oil Corporation, Philippine National Oil Company, VIRES Energy Corporation, SK E&S Co. Ltd. of South Korea, Carmine Energy Pte. Ltd., and DeEnergy International Corp.

First Gen of the Lopez Group, which had already gone headway on completing front-end engineering design of its planned LNG terminal, was deemed the most advanced among domestic players on its LNG infrastructure build-up

State-run PNOC has also taken considerable steps on its “search for a partner” on the planned $2.0-billion LNG facility, with an integrated initial power plant development of 200-megawatt capacity.

The government-managed company is still at the process of evaluating “unsolicited proposals” lodged to it on its quest for an investor-partner.

Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella noted “it’s still a pre-bid process,” hence, there is no definite gauge yet on the seriousness of the prospective investors. If these investors will eventually firmly decide on their proposed LNG facilities, one of the requirements they shall comply with would be securing corresponding permit or license from the DOE.

“Prior to the granting of the permit, the potential project proponent as an initial step shall request for a pre-application conference to present the general project concept to the Centralized Review Evaluation Committee,” the energy department has announced.