By Juzel L. Danganan
MANILA, July 6 (PNA) — Undersecretary Donato Marcos said the Department of Energy (DOE) is targeting to launch two Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuelling stations next year, allowing buses to have an alternative fuel source.
”Two refuelling or daughter stations will be built in Binan, Laguna and Batangas. We’re just securing supply from the Malampaya consortium to extend the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by another five years,” Marcos told reporters in a chance interview.
He revealed one refuelling or daughter station costs US$ 100 million.
Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC), which leads the project, will approve the construction of the stations after the signing, since it was already bid out, according Marcos.
The plan is better-known as the Natural Gas for Vehicle Program of Public Transportation (NGCPPT), which aims to diversify fuel with natural gas and lower carbon emissions from buses.
Marcos further revealed the DOE targets to launch the PNOC-EC led CNG project next year.
”Next year is our goal, we’re just awaiting the MOA extension with the Malampaya Consortium and PNOC-EC,” he told PNA in a text message Monday.
Marcos added the MOA extension, which will last from 2017 to 2022, is vital to secure the supply continuity of the pilot project.
The DOE official disclosed the MOA draft is nearing completion, with the signature of the higher officials next to be sought, only needing a few amendments.
Marcos also said the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) has approved 200 CNG-reliant buses that will have a route outside of EDSA.
Six bus companies were originally licensed by the DOE for the CNG bus operation, such as HM Transport, Inc., KL CNG Bus Transport, BBL Trans System Corp., Greenstar CNG Express, Inc., RRCG Transport System Co. and N. Dela Rosa Liner, Inc.
However, Marcos bared Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation (PSPC) will exit the project, whom was initially included in the original MOA to transfer its rights to PNOC-EC on the Mamplasan CNG daughter station.(PNA)