DOE approves 7th LNG project amid power woes

Samat LNG Corp. is joining the liquefied natural gas (LNG) trend in the Philippines with its proposed $67-million project in Bataan.

In a statement on Friday, the Department of Energy (DOE) said it gave Samat LNG the go-ahead to proceed with the construction of a small-scale LNG receiving terminal and regasification facility in Mariveles town.

The planned facility, which is being targeted to operate by the first half of 2024, will be designed to accommodate 200,000 to 400,000 tons of imported LNG annually.

It will be catering to the needs of small-scale independent power producers, manufacturing companies and transport fleets.

“The LNG will be distributed to its customers by a dedicated fleet of LNG trucks, small LNG vessels and barges within its neighboring regions,” the DOE said.

According to the agency, small-scale LNG terminals are suitable for archipelagic countries like the Philippines since they can supply fuel to on-grid and off-grid areas. Such facilities are modular and can be constructed quickly.

Samat LNG, which was established in 2020, is the 7th entity to propose an LNG facility in the country.

Other project proponents are Linseed Field Power Corp., FGEN LNG Corp., Luzon LNG Terminal Inc., Energy World Gas Operations Philippines Inc., Shell Energy Philippines Inc., and Vires Energy Corp.

Linseed, a local firm under Singapore-based Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific International Holdings, and FGEN LNG, a subsidiary of Lopez-led First Gen Corp., are slated to commission their respective projects this year. INQ