Philippines: LNG terminal hub on track

“We are on time, on target. By January 2014, our terminal hub will be operational and we hope that our first 150-megawatt ( MW) power plant can be ready by 2016,” Eduardo T. Rodriguez, country manager of EWC, told reporters on the sidelines of the Energy Investment Forum at F1 Hotel, Bonifacio World City in Taguig late Thursday last week.

He said that the LNG terminal will be completed in two phases, with the first involving construction of a 130,000 cubic metre LNG tank, a regasification facility, the first of two 150- MW power plants and supporting infrastructure.

The second phase will involve establishment of another 130,000-cubic-metre (cu. m.) LNG tank and the second 150- MW power plant.

“We are now going to start our work for the 130,000-cu.-m. gas tank,” Rodriguez said.

He said the company is investing around $250 million for first phase of the project, which will be funded through loans from various banks: “We have already committed loans and funds from our banks. One of them is Standard Chartered Bank.”

The LNG hub terminal in Pagbilao, Quezon will be used to fuel its proposed 300- MW combined cycle gas turbine power plant.

The company will source the natural gas from existing gas fields in Australia and Indonesia, Rodriguez said.

In January last year, EWC received a 25-year permit for the development, construction and operation of the LNG terminal hub from the Department of Energy.

According to its Web site, the company is engaged in power, gas and LNG exploration, development and production in Australia and Indonesia.