The Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) said a scoping visit was conducted in Tawi-Tawi to assess the viability of putting up a self-generating industrial park in Pababag, Bongao.
This forms part of an effort to support innovative and cost-effective energy solutions to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), PNOC said in a statement Tuesday.
The actual scoping was conducted from February 5 to 6, to be followed by the creation of a bankable feasible study for investors scheduled this year, the state-run firm added.
PNOC also said a technical working group for the project will be created as part of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the firm and Indonesia’s PT Pertamina last November.
Oliver Butalid, PNOC president and chief executive officer, said among key strategies being pursued are the provision of support for innovative and cost-effective energy solutions to GIDAs, particularly from off-grid islands in Visayas and Mindanao.
Butalid also noted an opportunity to further utilize liquefied natural gas (LNG) with the Pertamina partnership.
“Once this supply route is established in off-grid islands such as Tawi-Tawi, they will be able to rapidly develop because they will have access to affordable and secure electricity,” Butalid said.
Last year, PNOC said the MOU with Pertamina aims to advance collaborative development in LNG and any other possible cooperation and collaboration in energy sectors that may be mutually agreed by both companies.
The partnership will mainly explore cooperation opportunities in the LNG market in the Philippines, including establishing LNG and gas infrastructure to meet rising energy demands in both countries.
The parties will also be involved in knowledge exchange and joint market intelligence efforts on topics such as LNG supply chain including commodity, sea transportation, regasification terminal, energy demand and supply trends.
In addition to LNG initiatives, PNOC and Pertamina will explore potential commercialization opportunities in hydrocarbon products, biofuel and sustainable aviation fuel production.
