MANILA, Philippines — Locators in the 37 industrial parks, also known as economic zones, in the three provinces in southern Luzon have been identified as key markets for the country’s emerging gas industry, a draft masterplan said.

This forms part of the Natural Gas Industry Master Plan drafted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which noted that the proposed 105-kilometer pipeline will pass through along the 28 industrial parks in Batangas and Laguna provinces.

“If gas supply area is expanded to Cavite province, the number of industrial parks or economic zones increases to 37,” the study-outcome of the Japanese institution has qualified. In Batangas area, there are around 14 industrial parks; while 21 are in the Laguna roll.

Based on JICA’s analysis, if these industries will shift to gas on their energy or fuel needs, their costs will be lower; especially for those which have been utilizing fuel oil in running their facilities.

If the shift will be with imported liquefied natural gas (LNG), the fuel price cost (as referenced on a calorific value of 10,000 kcal) will be P29.01 and even cheaper for natural gas at P17.03. Compare it with fuel oil at P38.84 per 10,000 kcal.

These targeted end-users have been factored in into the gas market potential assessed by JICA and which will be treated as added anchor to the construction of the proposed Batangas-Manila pipeline as well as the establishment of the LNG regas facilities.

The Batangas industrial zones are RLC Economic Zone; First Batangas Industrial Park; Rancho Montana Ecozone; Sto. Tomas Batangas Ecozone; AG&P Special Economic Zone; Cocochem Agro-Industrial Park; First Philippine Industrial Park; Keppel Philippines Marine Special Economic Zone; Light Industry and Science Park III; Lima Technology Center; Philtown Technology Park; Robinsons Place Lipa; Saint Frances Cabrini Medical Tourism Park; and Tabangao Special Economic Zone.

Those in Laguna province include the Allegis Information Technology Park; Calamba Premiere International Park; Carmelray Industrial Park I and II; Carmelray International Business Park; Filinvest Technology Park; LIIP Calamba Industrial Community; Prince Cabuyao Special Ecozone; Southwoods Ecocentrum Tourism Estate; Greenfield Automotive Park; Laguna International Industrial Park; Laguna Technopark and its annex; Lakeside Ecozone; Light Industry & Science Park I and II; Robinsons Place Sta. Rosa; SMPIC Special Economic Zone; Sta. Rosa Commercial IT Park; Toyota Sta Rosa Special Economic Zone; and YTMI Realty Special Economic Zone.

“Substantial gas demand has been identified along the BatMan 1 pipeline route,” the JICA study has specified.

However, it stressed that since the supply of gas from the Malampaya field may not be sufficient to meet the demand of targeted end-users along the pipeline stretch, one of the alternative supply sources would be importation of LNG.

In the entire chain of the country’s development of its gas industry, JICA said, “the procurement of gas is the key for the secured gas supply.”