The Department of Energy asked First Gen Corp. to complete an interim offshore liquefied natural gas terminal a few months ahead of schedule, or by April 2022.
Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said First Gen changed its plan from an onshore LNG terminal to a floating storage re-gasification unit after submitting a revised application to with the DOE.
“The concept from on shore terminal, they’re going to go for FSRU so they submitted their amendments and that’s being addressed by our OIMB (Oil Industry Management Bureau),” Cusi said.
He said DOE was still reviewing First Gen’s application, including the timeline of the project.
FGEN LNG Corp., a wholly-owned unit of First Gen, in March sought a permit to build an interim offshore LNG terminal within the First Gen clean energy complex.
Rino Abad, DOE-OIMB director, said First Gen’s decision to revise its project from an onshore to offshore terminal needed additional documentation requirements.
“We wrote First Gen (last week) and we are waiting for their compliance on the additional permits,” he said, citing certifications from the Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Coast Guard and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.