Perez sees resolution of Pandacan oil depot relocation issue this month

The Department of Energy (DOE) hopes to resolve before the end of the month the issue of relocating the Pandacan oil depot.

"Within the month, we might have something to announce about the oil depot (in Pandacan)," Energy Secretary Vicente S. Perez said in an interview.

The City Council of Manila has threatened not to renew the license of the three oil companies – Petron Corp. Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., and Caltex Philippines Inc. – occuppying the 30-hectare oil terminal.

"I was informed that the oil companies have prepared a comprehensive presentation detailing the proposed partial shutting down of some of their operations in the depot," Perez said.

He said he would like to see what the oil firms have to say before making any move. "They would describe the so-called green buffer zone in that presentation. I wold listen to them (oil companies) first," he said.

Perez said he had met with the three oil majors but he opted to wait for the full presentation before making any statement on the highly-sensitive issue of the transer of the oil depot." (I) had a meeting with them. I want to wait for the full presentation," he said.

Earlier, Perez said the scaling down scheme proposed by the oil companies is a welcome development since the city of Manila and the DOE will not accept a status quo on the Pandacan terminal. "We welcome this announcement by the oil companies. We are ready to sit down and understand what they are trying to do in their Pandacan operation," he said.

While "a no change attitude" in unacceptable, Perez, however, said a total relocation of the terminal is also close to impossible.

He noted that the expenses that would be incurred by the oil companies in relocating the oil facility (estimated at P10 billion excluding the land cost) would eventually be passed on to consumers.

The Pandacan installation supplies at least 80 percent of the petroleum needs such as gasoline, diesel oil, kerosene, fuel oil, aviation fuel, LPG, lubricants, and other chemicals, of Metro Manila and a greater part of Luzon.