US firm offers to build LNG terminal in Batangas

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) has received a new application from a US-based firm to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the country.

Excelerate Energy L.P., an LNG company based in Texas, submitted a proposal to build a floating storage and regassification unit (FSRU) offshore Batangas.

DOE has received the proposal this month which is now being studied by the evaluation committee.

This is the fourth LNG project the DOE has received.

Meanwhile, two projects are still awaiting the notice to proceed (NTP) from the agency.

Lopez-led First Gen Corp.’s bid to build its LNG terminal at its Batangas Clean Energy Complex is still under evaluation. It was submitted last December.

Its onshore storage and regasification terminal will have a capacity to supply a minimum of five million tons of natural gas equivalent to 5,000 megawatts (MW) and is expected to cost at least $1 billion.

FGen LNG Corp. signed a joint development agreement with Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd.—Japan’s largest natural gas utility—for the project.

The other proposal, which is from Tanglawan Philippines LNG Inc., is now in the last stage of approval to get an NTP. Its proposal was submitted in November.

Tanglawan is a partnership between businessman Dennis Uy’s Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. and China National Offshore Oil Corp.

In its proposal, Tanglawan will build an onshore LNG terminal with a capacity of five metric tons per annum (MTPA) in the National Development Corp. in Batangas. It is also looking at building its own LNG-fired power plant as offtaker of the LNG supply.