The government is now looking at unsolicited bids for the development of the country’s first liquefied natural gas hub, as state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. has yet to find an acceptable government-to-government proposal from six countries.
Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi told reporters that PNOC, which was tasked to implement the planned “common carrier” liquefied natural gas receiving and distribution infrastructure, had not submitted any shortlist to the department for evaluation.
“None yet. They are still working on the framework. They are still completing it. They have not chosen,” Cusi said.
PNOC earlier announced that it received government-to-government proposals from China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. The proposals are being evaluated based on five key components including LNG storage, liquefaction, regassification, power plant and distribution channel. Sources said PNOC was not happy with the proposals from the six countries.
“We will open it [to unsolicited proposals] to get what is really beneficial for the country,” Cusi said.