TOKYO, JAPAN – Officials from the Department of Energy (DOE) led by Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi are in Tokyo this week as part of the country’s delegation to the fifth regular meeting of the Philippines-Japan High-Level Committee on Infrastructure and Economic Cooperation.
The DOE delegation will reinforce discussions on the Philippine energy industry with potential Japanese investors, while the other leaders of President Duterte’s economic team continue their high-level dialogues with the Japanese Ministry of the Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), on the administration’s flagship infrastructure projects under the Build Build Build program.
Secretary Cusi will focus on encouraging natural gas companies in Japan to invest in the Philippines’ liquefied natural gas (LNG) Hub Terminal project in anticipation of the Malampaya Gas Field’s depletion by 2022.
Cusi said, “The strategic location of the Philippines, as well as the fair and competitive playing field policy for natgas would entice investors to engage in the LNG terminal project.”
Currently, major Japanese gas companies such as Tokyo Gas are among those in serious talks for the project.
“In addition to discussions on LNG investments, our top officials and staff are undergoing extensive training to effectively monitor, regulate and supervise the upcoming Philippine LNG industry,” Cusi added.
DOE Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos and two ranking technical staff began an extensive training program on LNG value chains in Japan last Monday. They are expected to complete the course by the end of the month.
To date, natural gas from the Malampaya gas field off the coast of Palawan provides the fuel requirements of five gas-fired power plants, all located in the province of Batangas, with a combined capacity of 3,211 megawatts (MW).
“The construction of strategic natural gas facilities, which includes LNG receiving terminals and distribution pipelines, are necessary to ensure the security and diversity of the energy supply in the Philippines. It also provides the option of expanding the use of natural gas in the Philippines,” Cusi concluded.
