LPG supply to normalize in two weeks - DOE chief

MANILA, Philippines - The supply of liquefied petroleum gas will normalize in two weeks, the government assured Tuesday. Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes gave the assurance following reports of shortage in the supply of LPG cooking gas in Metro Manila. "We expect the shipment (LPG) to come in. So we expect the situation to normalize in the next two weeks," Reyes said. While recognizing the problem in the supply of LPG, Reyes said this is not a reason for the public to panic. He said they have been coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as and local government units to determine what dealers call as a "tightness in the supply" of LPG. Reyes said Liquigas, which supplies 70 percent of the consumers in the entire Luzon, has a current supply of 11,000 metric tons. The firm is expecting another shipment to arrive in the next two weeks. The Energy chief said Shell Philippines and Petron Corporation have likewise assured him of adequate supply of its LPG. In a statement, Petron said an LPG carrier carrying 2,000 MT was arriving Wednesday at its Bataan refinery. This is on top of the five additional shipments totaling more than 12,000 MT that are set to arrive at the Bataan refinery within the month. Petron said several shipments totaling more than 5,000 MT are also expected at their terminal in Batangas before the month ends. “Contrary to the statements made by some players that there is a shortage in the market, our LPG supply is normal and we have been making regular deliveries to our customers,” said Petron public affairs manager Virginia A. Ruivivar. Reyes said they have already dispatched people to inspect storage facilities, re-filing stations and dealers to see to it that nobody is taking advantage of the situation. - GMANews.TV