Two of the six liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects may soon reach completion and operations, the Department of Energy (DOE) said.
In a media briefing on Friday, DOE Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) Dir. Rino Abad said that Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific Co.’s (AG&P) import terminal is the first project expected to reach completion, but is currently experiencing delays in its commercial operation date. AG&P’s LNG project is being handled by local firm Linseed Field Power Corporation.
“Yung Linseed, na-move lang po ng kaunti but this has to be confirmed in the monthly meeting na from July 1 they may end up having commissioned [the] Regasification terminal on August 1 instead,” Abad said. AG&P’s LNG terminal was initially scheduled to begin operations this July.
The DOE has scheduled an onsite inspection in the LNG facility this Monday. today. They are also coordinating with SMC Global Power Holdings unit South Premiere Power Corporation (SPPC) regarding the LNG supply for the terminal.
SPPC is the independent power producer administrator of the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan gas-fired power plant, which the Linseed facility was meant to serve.
“Kahit matapos ang commissioning ng regas terminal ng linseed dapat aligned yung pagdating ng LNG. Kahit may regas terminal ka kahit wala namang LNG, delayed pa rin yan,” Abad said, adding that the DOE-OIMB is looking for replacement power in case the Ilijan plant fails to supply LNG to the facility.
Meanwhile, the DOE said that First Gen Corporation’s interim offshore LNG facility would be operational by the fourth quarter. The LNG supply for the facility has also been assured.
“For First Gen, wala pong pagbabago. Ang kanilang commissioning is around end of October or beginning of November. Mukhang ide-deliver ang kanilang projects,” Abad said.
As for other LNG facilities, Shell Energy Philippines’ LNG facility is still in its permitting phase while Vires Energy Corporation has asked DOE for an extension as it plans to enter the Manila Electric Company’s (MERALCO) competitive selection process.
Energy World Corporation, meanwhile, has yet to provide a certain timetable for its LNG facility.