Philippines' DOE to re-evaluate BatMan pipeline

The Philippine’s Department of Energy (DOE) has plans to do another evaluation of the Batangas-Manila 1 (BatMan 1) natural gas pipeline project.

The Rebel Group has implemented the feasibility study, which was funded by the PPP Center, and is providing Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) transaction advisory support until the project’s financial close. The PPP Center presented the results of the study to the DOE in early 2015.

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla stated:

“We have a question because of the end-to-end design. There are no takers in between so we want to do the evaluation again because it cannot be just end-to-end.”

The BatMan 1 involves the construction of a 10-kilometer natural gas transmission and distribution pipeline facilities for the province of Batangas to transport and supply natural gas to the various industries in the economic zones of Batangas, Laguna and Cavite. The project will effectively reduce the country’s dependence on oil.

The total project investment is estimated between US$100 million and US$150 million.

In March 2014 we reported that the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) selected the Netherlands’ Rebel Group International BV to provide transaction advisory services for the project.