By Juzel L. Danganan
MANILA, Nov. 16 (PNA) — Marubeni Corporation is offering to build a 200 Megawatt (MW) Natural Gas Plant, in exchange for a good gas supply price from the Malampaya Power Station, according to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla.
“Marubeni is offering to build a no-cost to government merchant plant, but it wants a good price on Natural Gas, because they’re using piping. They can make it up to 200 MWs,” Petilla told reporters at the Office of the Secretary in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
However, Petilla said he is still awaiting for the offer price of Marubeni for the Natural Gas supply agreement.
“I’m asking them for what price, because I may connect them with Shell, which has an additional 200 MW worth of gas,” the energy head said.
But, Petilla stated that the DOE will first conduct talks with Marubeni, before the government body passes it off to Shell Petroleum Exploration BV (SPEX).
The challenge to the supply agreement, according to Petilla, is the lack of extra natural gas from the Malampaya Consortium after April 2015.
The energy chief is asking Marubeni to run on diesel for the Luzon reserve shortage during the summer and change its supply to gas by the end of 2015.
On the other hand, Petilla said that he’d like to bid out the extra bank gas as soon as possible.
“I’d like to award it as soon as possible, but actual can be on January, so it will be stable. This year, if we can make it, we’re always optimistic,” Petilla said.
The 200 MW plant is proposed to be built near the 1,200 MWs Ilijan Power Plant in Batangas, which was constructed by Marubeni Corporation.
The Malampaya Power Station is a partnership between the Shell Petroleum Exploration BV (SPEX), Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC), and Chevron Philippines Inc, which produces Natural Gas. (PNA)