PNOC secures nod of board to proceed with ESB project
BY LENIE LECTURA – OCTOBER 18, 2022
from Business Mirror
State-run Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) will pursue the rehabilitation of its Energy Supply Base Port (ESB) project, the state firm’s new president and former energy undersecretary said.
“The board of directors finally agreed to proceed with it because there will be little revenue we’re looking down the road and we will be relying on ESB as well as the PNOC industrial park to be our vehicles of revenue,” said Jesus Cristino Posadas.
PNOC’s approved budget for the project is P1.036 billion. “At that time, it was the height of Covid. The board of directors saw it fit that we should not proceed. With this drive for more energy exploration and exploitation, the ESB was created to support that so the board of directors’ decision to proceed, we find it very encouraging to support the energy resource development,” said Posadas. He added that PNOC plans to utilize 15 percent of the budget, or P248 million, next year.
The state firm signed last April a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) for the reclamation of the 3,772 hectares component of the proposed project.
The ESB is a 19-hectare property in Mabini, Batangas which offers pier services, warehousing facilities, cargo handling, equipment rental, manpower services and water service.
The project will include the reclamation of 37, 270 square meters along Batangas Bay and the extension of the piers to reach the 12-15 meters depth.
Last September 8, the EBS updated the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources on the status of the documentary request from the Mabini Municipal Agriculture Office as part of the requirements of the PRA for the issuance of an area clearance.
The ESB was created under Letter of Instruction No.563 dated June 24, 1977 which directed PNOC to provide easy availability and accessibility of support and logistics facilities for onshore and offshore exploration activities in petroleum and other energy related fields.
PNOC said it has extended its services to other commercial clients pursuant to the grant of a Permit to operate as a private commercial port (Certificate of Registration No. 291) in October 1996 by the Philippine Ports Authority.
The PNOC and PNOC-Exploration Corp. (EC) Boards approved the transfer of operations of the ESB from PNOC-EC to PNOC in February 2017. The transition and turnover of ESB’s operations and corporate services function from PNOC-EC to PNOC was completed on December 31, 2017. On January 1, 2018, administration and operations were assumed by PNOC.
