Tanglawan request still under DOE evaluation – Cusi

MANILA, Philippines — Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the request of Dennis Uy’s Tanglawan Philippine LNG Inc. to extend its permit to build its integrated liquefied natural gas (LNG) hub project is still under evaluation.

“I understand that they applied for extension and there is an evaluation, I heard, but I have not received recommendation for a favorable action,” he said.

The energy chief said he needs to see Tanglawan’s work program to know if the project would still be able to meet its targets.

“I have yet to see their work program to answer whether it’s delayed or not,” Cusi said.

Last June 20, Tanglawan has submitted an application to extend the notice to proceed (NTP) issued by the Department of Energy (DOE) in December last year.

It also submtted status updates of the proposed project along with the request for extension.

With a six-month validity, Tanglawan’s NTP expired on June 22.

Tanglawan is the prospective partnership among Phoenix, state-run Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) and China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC).

Earlier, Cusi said the group is hoping to break ground for the project in the early part of May to get to partial operations within two years, or ahead of the 2024 contract expiration of Malampaya gas project, the country’s main and only gas resource.

Tanglawan plans to build a regasitification and receiving terminal with a capacity of 2.2 metric tons per annum (mtpa), with commercial operations targeted to start by end-2023.

The facility will help support the demand for a clean, competitive, and environment-friendly energy source in Luzon, and provide energy security for the country.

It aims to develop a gas-fired power generation facility with up to 2,000 megawatts (MW) installed capacity, initially putting up a 1,100-MW gas-fired power plant to become the offtaker of the LNG supply.