Business NEWS

A Chinese firm has already dropped out of the Malaya thermal power facility negotiated sale, but four others are still in the running, giving hopes to state-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) that its long-wished for privatization of the 650-megawatt facility (inclusive of its underlying site), could finally be successful. From the initial list of five prospective bidders – foreign firm China Gezhouba Group Co. Ltd. already dropped out from the roll of prospective bidders.

Filipino consumers will need to brace for increase in diesel prices next week that may range from P0.35 to P0.45 per liter; while kerosene prices may go up from P0.20 to P0.30 per liter.

Diversifying conglomerate San Miguel Corporation indicated that it is still weighing in if it will pursue its intent to join the bidding for the 45-percent stake of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) in the multi-billion Malampaya deep-water-gas to power project.

Power utility giant Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and other industry players are now stepping up on their preparations and contingency measures to mitigate power interruptions that could be brought in by strong typhoon Rolly, which is expected to make a landfall this weekend.

The Philippine government has opened full foreign ownership in the geothermal segment of the energy industry, but under the condition that investments must be done in integrated steam resource development and power projects.

Amid the tax predicaments raised by Petron on its refining business, the Department of Finance (DOF) indicated that it is not amenable to proposed tweaks in the country’s tax laws as applied to the supply chain of the downstream oil sector.

To force the country into ‘clean energy’ transition, the Department of Energy (DOE) has enforced moratorium on new coal-fired power plant projects.

As an aftermath of severe storm Quinta’s devastation, massive swath in 15 provinces groped in the dark due to power outages caused by damages in various power facilities.

Anchoring it on the ‘right to match’ provision of the joint operating agreement (JOA) under Service Contract (SC) 38, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi indicated that Udenna Corporation of businessman Dennis Uy may likely have an edge in acquiring the 45-percent stake being unloaded by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) in the Malampaya gas field asset.

To allow the entry of investors in the upstream petroleum sector, primarily China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), President Rodrigo Duterte has already lifted the moratorium on seismic as well as oil and gas drilling activities at the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a disputed territory.

State-run Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) has inked a deal with American firm New Fortress Energy LLC (NFE) for the setting up of liquefied natural gas (LNG) installation in the country.

With the service contract of the Malampaya gas field expiring in four years, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi sounded off that the next best option for the country is to take the course of liquefied natural gas (LNG) importation.

Customers of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will have to shell out additional cash on their electricity budget as the overall rate of the utility firm would be higher by P0.1212 per kilowatt hour (kWh) in their October billing.

Oil firm Cleanfuel bucked the trend even as most of its competitors have implemented slight upward adjustments in pump prices this week to the tune of P0.10 per liter for gasoline products, and P0.20 per liter for kerosene products.

The country’s Malampaya field logged its all-time high gas production at 155.495 billion standard cubic feet (scf) last year, according to data from the Department of Energy.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is scheduled to issue an advisory or order that will direct power utilities, like the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), to extend for at least 30 days the bill payments of customers in line with the prescription of Republic Act 11494 or the Bayanihan Act-2.

As the government is keen on evaluating the joint venture deal proposed by Davao businessman Dennis A. Uy, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi indicated that they will start studying the ‘buyout proposal’ for the 45-percent majority interest of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) in the Malampaya gas field venture.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has started awarding the last batch of degressed feed-in-tariff (FIT) incentives to qualified biomass and run-of-river hydropower projects that reached commercial operations on the prescribed cut-off date last year.