Japanese firms are interested in investing in the country’s liquefied natural gas (LNG), including the government’s plan to establish an LNG receiving terminal in Batangas.
One of these firms is Tokyo Gas – Japan’s largest natural gas utility, Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.
“PNOC (Philippine National Oil Company) is studying putting up LNG receiving station in Batangas. That’s where these Japanese investors are looking at,” he said.
This interest was sparked after Cusi’s presentation of the country’s LNG road map in a Japan conference a week ago, where he urged investors to invest in the Philippines’ LNG importation, off – grid or missionary islands conversion to natural gas power plants – including non – power applications.
The LNG terminal is looking to meet the country’s need after the depletion of the Malampaya deep water gas – to – power project by 2024.
Malampaya currently provides 98 percent of its production to for power generation, supplying five natural gas plants in Batangas amounting to 3,211 MW that provide electricity to Luzon and Visayas.
Osaka gas Co. Ltd has also expressed its interest in investing in the country during President Duterte’s trip to Japan last August. The company is looking to put up LNG plants in Luzon and Mindanao.
