Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. (PSPC) inaugurated on Wednesday its import terminal in Batangas where it used to operate its Tabangao refinery.
Pilipinas Shell President and Chief Executive Officer Cesar G. Romero said the Shell Import Facility in Tabangao marks two major pivots in the company’s more-than-a-century history in the Philippines: the transformation of Tabangao from refinery into a world-class terminal; and the company’s shift in its approach to a world coping with Covid-19 from effective, real-time response to recovery.
“From tough decisions come positive results. The transformation of our refinery into a world-class import facility demonstrates Shell’s commitment to provide sustainable energy to the Philippines despite the challenging conditions posed by the pandemic. We are now better positioned, operationally and financially, to serve the country’s energy needs as the economy reopens with the lifting of restrictions,” said Romero.
The terminal will help meet fuel demand not just in Metro Manila, but also in Southern Luzon and Northern Visayas.
Romero said the facility’s transformation helped the company booked a net income of P1 billion in the first quarter from a P5.5-billion loss in the same period last year.
Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi and Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez gave their respective messages virtually, while Batangas government officials led by Fifth District Representative Mario Vittorio Mariño; Governor Hermilando Mandanas represented by his executive assistant, Carlos Pastor; and Mayor Beverley Rose Dimacuha, attended the event on site.
“In May 2020, I was informed of the Tabangao shutdown which later led to its permanent shutdown in August. Despite this, Pilipinas Shell proved its resilience in its quick decision to transform the refinery into a world-class import terminal. A business call that would ensure continued fuel supply while enhancing the revenues and supply performances,” said Cusi.
Cusi assured the oil company that it would support its current and future endeavors. “You may have lost the refinery, but you continue to give back to the Filipino people. Rest assured, DOE will remain supportive of Pilipinas Shell.”
The Tabangao Import Terminal has a storage capacity of up to 263 million liters (ML) and boasts of jetties that are designed to receive products from various vessel sizes including Medium-range import vessels (MRs). MRs can carry around 30 million to 50 million liters of petroleum products like gasoline or diesel.
The loading gantries at the Tabangao import facility are also equipped with bottom loading function, which enables Shell to load a 30kl truck in 20 minutes. There are plans to put up another bottom loading gantry to support the growth aspirations of Shell’s marketing business.
In keeping with Shell’s thrust to pursue cleaner renewable energy sources, the Tabangao facility is 100 percent powered by a combination of solar, geothermal, and hydro energies provided by Shell Energy Philippines, a retail electricity supplier which is registered under the Shell companies in the Philippines. The solar farm onsite covers 5,220 solar panels and seven inverters which can generate up to 300megawatt hours.