3 groups considering developing Phl’s LNG terminal

Three groups are seriously pursuing the development of the country’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal which the Department of Energy (DOE) hopes to award in November.

These are state-run Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC), Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd. and China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC), Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a text message.

However, Cusi clarified that the DOE has not yet shortlisted any company to build the LNG terminal.

“I just told them that the serious proponents are PNOC, CNOOC and Tokyo Gas with their [joint venture] partners,” Cusi said when asked about the Reuters report.

Reuters reported the Philippines has short-listed three different groups to build and operate its first LNG import terminal from 18 groups that submitted letters of intent (LOI) to the DOE.

Last June, CNOOC entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Phoenix Petroleum Philip- pines Inc. to study, plan, and develop an integrated LNG project in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, PNOC recently launched its tendering process in its quest to find a joint venture partner to build the planned LNG terminal.

The DOE is accepting LOIs from companies interested to build the LNG terminal under the Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Regulation (PDNGR), which details the rules and regulations governing the downstream natural gas industry to develop a market and gain energy security and sustainability.

Apart from the three groups, the agency also received LOIs from Cleanway Energy Development Corp., First Gen Corp., CGN New Energy Holdings Co. Ltd., PNOC, VIRES Energy Corp., DeEnergy International Corp., SK E&S Co, Ltd., Carmine Energy Pte. Ltd., Transformation LLC, Limay LNG Power Corp., KEPCO E&C, Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific Co. of Manila Inc., Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., among others.