By Juzel L. Danganan
MANILA, July 5 (PNA) — Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation (PSPC) said it will try to meet the Pandacan oil depot exit deadline set by the Supreme Court (SC) by November, which the company will comply through its depletion of leftover fuel stocks, said its President Ed Chua.
”We’re trying to meet the deadline set by the Supreme Court sometime November,” Chua told reporters in a chance interview.
He noted PSPC started demobilizing upon receiving the order early May or April, adding the company has complied by depleting its stock — since it does not have another storage facility in Metro Manila.
Chua added the new scenario, with Shell supplying fuel from its Batangas facility, will bring new challenges.
”It is very challenging. Because if the fuel supply will come from Batangas and there is a broken bridge, that would be very challenging,” Chua said.
Last March, Shell said it will study the implications of the SC decision and review its available options, but assured it will observe the rule of law.
A huge portion of the Pandacan lot is owned by PSPC, while the other parts are owned by the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) and the National Development Council (NDC).
But, Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI) and Petron Corporation had also stored fuel in the depot, with Chevron leaving the facility on June last year.
On February, Chua pointed out Shell does not want to relocate due to the lack of relocation site in Metro Manila and the high expenses it would incur. (PNA)