PNOC, China state firm ink MOU to pursue LNG projects

By Lenie Lectura – July 29, 2019
from Business Mirror

THE Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) and the China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co. Ltd. (CPP) will partner to look for opportunities in the LNG (liquefied natural gas) sector.

Both signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU)  “to jointly pursue LNG, refinery, and oil depot projects all over the country.”

The state firm did not provide further details.

Wang Hai Tao, CPP director; Dong Xu, CPP president for Southeast Asia, and PNOC President Reuben Lista signed the MOU.

Earlier, Phoenix Petroleum and China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) also signed an MOU with PNOC.

The MOU will allow the three companies to explore and discuss business opportunities and cooperation in relation to the equity investment in Tanglawan Philippine LNG Inc. and other companies relating to the project, as well as on PNOC facilities, market development, PNOC banked gas and future energy projects.

Tanglawan is a planned joint venture between Phoenix Petroleum and CNOOC Gas and Power Group Co. Ltd., China’s largest LNG importer and terminal operator.

PNOC and Tanglawan are trying to find ways to maximize the remaining 97.67 petajoules Malampaya banked gas, valued at $700 million to $750 million.

“If their LNG power plant will push through they will study if they can buy our banked gas. They will consider if it is viable for them to buy the banked gas from us when the power plant is operational,” Lista earlier said.