Oil companies submit relocation plan

Philippine oil companies submitted a relocation plan for the Pandacan depot, complying with the Supreme Court order in February that mandated the facility’s closure due to safety concerns. The “Pandacan Comprehensive Relocation Plan” was submitted to Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 39 by oil majors Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Petron Corp. and Chevron Philippines, Inc. The case arose from a Manila City government ordinance rezoning Pandacan, which has been home to the oil firms’ facilities for decades. Oil firms have stressed Pandacan’s strategic location in their appeals, pointing out that it services 50% of the country’s fuel demand, 70% of the shipping sector’s oil needs, 90% of the lubricant volume and 75% of the aviation fuel requirements. If relocation has to be done, the oil firms said a depot somewhere along Manila Bay was the best option since it would, like Pandacan, be accessible to tankers and barges. The firms are also considering using existing terminals such as Petron’s in Limay, Bataan, Shell’s Tabangao, Batangas refinery, and Chevron’s San Pascual, Batangas terminal. (May 14, 2008)