Downstream Natural Gas Industry

Milestone

1993

  • PNOC Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC) received assistance from CIDA Petro Canada to install gas conditioning unit and 3 MW gas turbine generator to be able to conduct extended production testing of the gas reservoir in the San Antonio gas field under Service Contract No. 37. 

1994

  • Commissioning of PNOC-EC’s San Antonio Gas and Power Plant (SAGPP) in Echague, Isabela. Gas production in San Antonio 1A commenced in 1994 at a rate of 1 million standard cubic feet (mmscf) per day of natural gas which fuels a 3 MW power plant. 

2000

  • Inauguration of the first CNG Mother Station in San Antonio, Echague, Isabela operated by PNOC-EC. 

2001

  • Inauguration of the PNOC-EC’s CNG refilling station (mother station) constructed within the SAGPP facility in Echague, Isabela.

  • October 1, 2001: Initial commissioning of the Ilijan power plant in Tabangao, Batangas using natural gas.

  • October 16, 2001: The successful launching of the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project marked the birth of the natural gas industry in the Philippines. A total of 2,700 MW of installed capacity of natural gas power plants contributed to the country’s total power generation.

  • October 2001: Full commercial operation of the Sta. Rita power plant in Tabangao, Batangas using natural gas. 

2002

  • January 18, 2002: Issuance of Executive Order No. 66 designating the Department of Energy (DOE) as lead agency in the development of the Natural Gas Industry.

  • March 2002: Initial commissioning of the San Lorenzo power plant in Tabangao, Batangas.

  • June 5, 2002: Full commercial operation of the Ilijan power plant.

  • August 7, 2002: Issuance of DOE Circular No. 2002-08-005 (Interim Rules and Regulations Governing the Transmission, Distribution and Supply of Natural Gas)

  • October 1, 2002: Full commercial operation of the San Lorenzo power plant.

  • October 16, 2002: The successful launching of the Natural Gas Vehicle Program for Public Transport (NGVPPT) by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo served as a banner program for the use of natural gas in the transport sector.

  • November 28, 2002: Creation of the Natural Gas Office thru DOE Special Order No. 2002-12- 050 (12-03-2002).

2003

  • March 18, 2003: Provisional Permit issued to PNOC Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC) for the Batangas to Manila (BATMAN 1) Pipeline Project.

  • September 17, 2003: Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Energy (DOE), PNOC Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC) and GAIL India for cooperation in the development of the downstream natural gas industry. 

2004

  • March 5, 2004: Provisional Permit issued to GNPower Ltd. Co. for the LNG Terminal and 1200 MW Power Plant Project in Mariveles, Bataan.

  • March 16, 2004: Extension of Provisional Permit issued to PNOC-EC for the BATMAN 1 Pipeline Project

2005

  • March 5, 2005: Groundbreaking for the CNG Mother Refilling Station in the Malampaya Onshore Gas Plant, Tabangao, Batangas.

  • March 2005: Permit to Supply Natural Gas for Ilijan Power Plant issued to SPEX valid for 25 years

  • March 2005: Permit to Supply Natural Gas for Sta. Rita Power Plant issued to SPEX valid for 25 years

  • March 2005: Permit to Supply Natural Gas for San Lorenzo Power Plant issued to SPEX valid for 25 years

  • August 8, 2005: Own-Use Permit to Construct, Operate and Maintain a 800-meter pipeline from the PSPC refinery to the onshore gas processing plant issued to PSPC valid for three years.

  • August 8, 2005: Permit to Supply Natural Gas to PSPC Tabangao Refinery issued to SPEX valid for three years.

  • August 8, 2005: Permit to Supply Natural Gas for CNG Pilot Project issued to PSPC valid for seven years.

  • August 17, 2005: Signing of the Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) between SC 38 Consortium and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation (PSPC) for the use of natural gas in PSPC’s oil refinery in Tabangao, Batangas. (Tabangao GSPA)

  • August 25, 2005: Extension of Provisional Permit issued to GNPower Ltd. Co. for the LNG Terminal and 1200 MW Power Plant Project in Bataan.

  • October 11, 2005: Amendment No. 1 in the Tabangao GSPA.

  • November 25, 2005: DOE and Forum Exploration Inc. sign the Joint Determination of Commerciality for the Libertad gas field in Bogo, Cebu.

2006

  • December 2006: Completion of the ADB Technical Assistance entitled “Institutional Strengthening for the Development of the Natural Gas Industry in the Philippines” (ADB TA 4198-PHI).

2007

  • August 31, 2007: Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between PNOC-EC and Energtek Inc. to promote cooperation in undertaking the pilot testing of the CNG-lite technology in the Province of Isabela using gas from the San Antonio gas field.

  • October 2, 2007: Energtek’s successful conversion and testing of a tricycle in Echague, Isabela using a CNG conversion kit.

  • October 24, 2007: Inauguration of the CNG Daughter Station located in the Shell Station along the South Luzon Expressway, Biñan, Laguna.

  • December 17, 2007: Energtek’s launching of the CNG-lite/Adsorbed Natural Gas (ANG) technology for tricycles. 

2008

  • February 12, 2008: Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Energy (DOE) and a Korean Consortium composed of SK Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd. (SK E&C), Korea Western Power Co. Ltd. (KOWEPO), and Archinet International Inc. (AII), for the conduct of feasibility study for the proposed Underground LNG Storage Terminal and Power Plant Project in Bataan. MILESTONE Natural Gas Management Division 3

  • February 18, 2008: Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Energy (DOE) and Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) for cooperation in the establishment of a Philippine Natural Gas Institute.

  • February 18-20, 2008: Holding of the “Energy Fair at PUP” to promote DOE and PUP cooperation on energy. Various activities were scheduled such as the MOU signing, energy exhibit, seminars on energy- and natural gas-related topics, film showing and energy quiz show.

  • March 24, 2008: Launching of the “Libreng Sakay” Program for the CNG Pinoy Bus under the NGVPPT Pilot Project which lasted until April 7, 2008.

  • March 26-27, 2008: Seminar Workshop on Natural Gas for PUP faculty and students.

  • April 8, 2008: Start of CNG bus commercial operation. April 10, 2008: Joint DOE and PUP Study Tour in Natural Gas Facilities.

  • April 27-29, 2008: Conduct of the Joint DOE and PUP Strategic Planning Workshop to formulate the strategies and action plans towards the establishment of the natural gas institute.

  • July 31, 2008: After 14 years of gas production and electricity generation for local communities in Echague, Isabela, the San Antonio Gas and Power Plant (SAGPP), operated by PNOC-EC, was decommissioned due to depleting pressure in the reservoir.

  • November 24, 2008: Signing of the Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) between SC 38 Consortium and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation (PSPC) for the use of natural gas in PSPC’s oil refinery in Tabangao, Batangas. (Tabangao GSPA) – effectivity October 12, 2008 

2009

  • January 19, 2009: Opening of data room for the SC 38 bid for new GSPA of 149 PJ Malampaya gas.

  • January 30, 2009: Forum Exploration Inc. (FEI) and DESCO Inc. sign Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) for the supply of gas from the Libertad gas field to a 1.5 MW power plant in Bogo, Cebu.

  • January 30, 2009: Extension of Own-Use Permit to Construct, Operate and Maintain Natural Gas Pipeline issued to PSPC valid from August 9, 2008 until October 11, 2013.

  • April 2, 2009: Extension of Permit to Supply Natural Gas to PSPC Tabangao Refinery issued to SPEX valid from October 12, 2008 until October 11, 2013.

  • April 2009: Permit to Operate and Maintain a CNG Daughter Refueling Station issued to PSPC valid for seven years reckoning on April 8, 2008.

  • September 30, 2009: PNOC purchases from the DOE 108.6 petajoules (PJ) of Ilijan’s banked gas.

  • December 3, 2009: Bid process for 149 PJ Malampaya gas officially closed.

2011

  • January 24, 2011: Provisional Permit for the Development, Construction, Operation and Maintenance of an LNG Hub Terminal and Regasification Facility in Pagbilao, Quezon issued to EWCL valid for 25 years.

  • August 2, 2011: Permit to Operate and Maintain Tabangao-Ilijan Natural Gas Pipeline and Receiving Facility in Tabangao, Batangas issued to National Power Corporation valid for 25 years.

  • August 9, 2011: President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino’s visit to the MOGP.