20 Petron stations get ‘green’ certifications

MANILA, Philippines - Petron Corp., the country’s biggest oil refiner, has complied with a set of globally-accepted environmental standards for 20 of its service stations located in three areas around the country.

With the Environmental Management System (EMS) certifications, a number of Petron’s service stations in the National Capital Region, Davao and Gen. Santos City are now considered “green stations,” the company said.

The EMS is a set of globally accepted processes and practices that enable an organization to reduce environmental impact.

At the same time, the framework helps a company improve its environmental performance through consistent control of operations, Petron said.

Petron said its terminals and depots have also been adhering to EMS standards.

Toward this end, 23 of Petron’s 32 depots and terminals, including its Bataan refinery, are under EMS.

Petron vice president for operations Rodulfo Tablante said essentially, an EMS certification means more efficient operations.

“Having sustainable stations comes from our desire to be always at the forefront of industry innovations not only in terms of world-class products and services but also in environmental protection.  This is a key differentiator against competition. At the station level, an EMS means more efficient operations resulting to better service and greater customer satisfaction,” Tablante said, adding that EMS certifications are essential amid the unprecedented growth in its retail network. 

To date, the company has 2,200 service stations nationwide –  more than its two closest competitors combined – and growing. 

Petron Corp. has a 180,000 barrel-per-day oil refinery, which produces a full range of petroleum products to supply nearly 40 percent of the country’s total fuel requirements.

The company is also beefing up its operations in Malaysia with an investment plan of $2 billion for upgrading and expansion within the next 10 years.