The Philippines subsidiary of Anglo-Dutch major Shell is interested in participating in a proposed LNG import program in the country when a contracting round is launched, a company spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday.
The country's department of energy has said that it would pursue an LNG import program and hoped to launch an energy contracting round early next year, Shell Media Relations Manager Mich Cruz said. For now, Shell has just issued a general statement of interest, she added.
There were several interested players in the country, Cruz said. For Shell, the company already has local facilities available that could be used as part of an LNG project, she added, without giving details.
The company would be interested in building and operating an import facility as well as downstream infrastructure, she said. But it has not considered any specific timeline, budget or local partners as yet, she added.
Local newspaper Manila Times reported Monday comments from the country's Department of Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras that a study by the World Bank and Japan Bank for International Cooperation on the country's LNG development program would likely be completed by September. The DOE then hoped to "bid out" the LNG program early next year, he added.
Almendras said the department was looking at LNG import projects in Luzon and Mindanao, and was keen on both being developed simultaneously.
The paper also reported Almendras saying that Thailand's PTT was one of the companies interested in participating in the projects. The company owns and operates a new LNG import facility in Thailand.
DOE officials could not be reached to confirm the comments Tuesday.
In December 2010, Almendras said the country was looking to LNG imports to lift power capacity to replace ageing coal-fired facilities. At the time, he said he had instructed the Philippines National Oil Corp. to partner a public sector company to import LNG.
A number of other companies have been linked with proposed LNG projects in the country.
In March, Australian independent LNG developer Energy World Corporation said it had signed a non-binding agreement with Canada's InterOil and Australia's Pacific LNG to develop an LNG import terminal in the Philippines.
EWC said in the statement that it has been awarded a permit to construct and operate an LNG hub terminal at Pagbilao Grande Island in Quezon province.
In September last year, local conglomerate San Miguel said its energy subsidiary was considering investing up to $8 billion in the construction of LNG import facilities and integrated power projects.
The Philippines does not import LNG currently.
