Japanese firms keen on natural gas industry in RP

Twenty Japan-based power firms have shown interest in the country’s growing natural gas industry, an official from the Department of Energy (DOE) said yesterday.

Energy undersecretary J.V. Emmanuel A. De Dios, who headed the first Philippine delegation to the 22nd World Gas Conference 2003 held recently in Japan, said of the 35 who participated in the discussions, there were about 20 firms that were very keen on taking part in the countyry’s natural gas industry.

"We gave a presentation. We are now expec-ting feedback from the 20 firms. These include government agencies of Japan such as JBIC (Japan Bank for International Cooperation) and METI (Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry). Actually, there were already some that responded. The timetable is very tight as the President has declared a timetable for the privatization of the Sucat and Limay power plants as well as the construction of the gas pipelines," De Dios said.

De Dios said the Japanese firms were eager to look at not only the gas pipelines but also the construction of natural gas fired power plants. "They are interested in the Sucat and Limay plants, the Bataan-Manila gas pipelines, and the LNG (liquefied natural gas) facility as well," he said.

Aside from the Japanese firms, de Dios said there were Dutch, British and European countries that also expressed interest to participate in the gas development of the Philippines. "We explained to them what we are doing. So far it has been doing well," de Dios said.

Last March, De Dios said at least five firms – Japan Gas Corp., Korean Gas Corp., Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) of Malaysia, British Petroleum Plc. and Korean Electric Power Co. (Kepco) – have expressed interest to construct the $100 million Batangas to Manila gas pipeline or Batman I and convert the 300-MW Sucat I and 600-MWLimay diesel-fired power plants into natural gas facilities.