DOE recommends reopening of FPIC pipeline

The Department of Energy has recently filed a motion before the Court of Appeals to recommend the reopening of the 117-kilometer oil pipeline of the Lopez-owned First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC), after three tests confirmed its stability.

Energy Undersecretary Jose M. Layug Jr. told reporters that based on the results of the borehole test, segmented pressure test and leak test conducted on the FPIC pipeline, as well as on the reports of international and local experts, there is no reason to be afraid of resuming pipeline operations.

In particular, those inputs came from the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Geological Sciences, the UP Institute of Civil Engineering and pipeline integrity expert, the Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS), an international technical consultant in the area of pipeline operations and engineering.

More importantly, the re-opening of the fuel pipeline that runs from Batangas to Manila will help ensure fuel security in Metro Manila, as well as safety as this will reduce the number of accidents involving the increased number of fuel trucks plying along the metro’s main thoroughfares, Layug stressed.

“We have earlier secured truck ban exemptions for [fuel tankers] and we don’t want to keep doing that just to make sure that fuel supply keeps flowing to Metro Manila,” Layug added.

Should FPIC be granted the approval to resume operations of its pipeline, the Lopez firm is expected to first conduct a 48-hour test to further validate the integrity and stability of the pipeline.

The pipeline was shut down in October 2010, after it was found out to be the source of the oil that had been leaking into the basement of West Tower Condominium in Barangay Bangkal, Makati City since July that same year.

The discovery prompted the city government to order the evacuation of all residents in the 22-story building and the declaration of the surrounding areas as a “danger zone” due to the possibility of an explosion.

The leak was later traced to five rice grain-sized holes in a portion of the pipeline located just meters away from the condominium.

In November 2010, the high court issued a “Writ of Kalikasan” order that mandated FPIC to clean up the areas affected by the oil spill.

Prior to its closure, the 117-kilometer Batangas to Manila white oil pipeline supplied more than 50 percent of the petroleum products for Pandacan, considered as the largest and most important depot in the country.

On a nationwide basis, the Pandacan depot also supplies 70 percent of the shipping industry’s needs; 90 percent of lubricant requirements; 75 percent of all aviation fuel needs; and 25 percent of the demand for chemicals.

As such, the pipeline is considered Metro Manila’s energy lifeline, supplying to critical industries like transport, construction, food manufacturing, rice and sugar mills, mining and power generation.