The Energy Investment Coordinating Council, through the Department of Energy, identified three investments as energy projects of national significance under Executive Order No. 30.
The EICC granted Texas-based Excelerate Energy LP with a certificate of energy project of national significance for the commerciality of its liquefied natural gas project in Luzon, which it expects to complete by the second quarter of 2022.
Excelerate Energy is developing the country’s first open access LNG import terminal in offshore Batangas with an investment of P11.3 billion ($230 million).
Meanwhile, the DOE also granted a CEPNS to Batangas Clean Energy Inc., a company controlled by tycoon Lucio Tan for the commerciality of its integrated LNG project.
BCE, a joint venture of Gen X Energy, LLC and LCT Energy and Resources Inc., plans to start the construction of the integrated LNG project in 2021, with completion eyed by 2025.
The BCE LNG terminal and power plant will rise on a 38-hectare property in the boundaries of Barangay Pinamucan Ibaba and Pinamucan Proper, Batangas City.
The DOE also approved the CEPNS of Bacman Geothermal Inc., which is on the pre-development phase of its 29.5-megawatt Bacon-Manito expansion project.
BGI, subsidiary of Energy Development Corp., operates the 140-MW BacMan geothermal facility that straddles between Manito, Albay and Bacon, Sorsogon, and supplies clean and reliable power to the Luzon grid and retail electricity customers.
The DOE issued the CEPNS to the three companies on Oct. 30. It has so far issued CEPNS to 149 projects with estimated total investments of P794.52 billion. Alena Mae S. Flores
“Out of 399 received applications, 149 were certified as CEPNS while 35 applications are still under evaluation. Total estimated investment for the 145 issued CEPNS is P794.52 billion,” the DOE data showed.
The EICC is responsible for the issuance of CEPNS, which fast tracks the issuance of permits and clearances required from relevant government agencies and instrumentalities for energy projects.
Established by EO 30, the EICC was created to streamline the regulatory procedures of energy projects as part of the Ease of Doing Business Program of the Duterte administration.
