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DOE, oil firms draw up plans in case of prolonged pipeline shutdown


The Energy Department and some domestic oil companies have started preparing contingency measures in the event that the temporary shutdown of the petroleum pipeline of First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC) takes longer than expected. Directly affected by the FPIC shutdown are the operations of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Chevron Philippines Inc, the Energy Department said. FPIC owns and operates the sole commercial oil pipeline in the country, transporting crude and refined petroleum products from Batangas to Metro Manila. In an interview on Friday, Energy Department director Zenaida Monsada said the oil companies submitted their contingency plans in the event that it will take a long time before the pipeline can resume operations. The pipeline was shut down for the third time upon the orders of the Makati City government to determine the source of petroleum leak discovered at the basement of the West Tower Condominium along Osmena Highway, Brgy Bangkal, Makati City. FPIC shut down the pipeline on July 12 and resumed its operations on July 15. It again shut down the pipeline on July 21 and resumed operations on July 24. Monsada assured oil consumers that should there be an impact on petroleum supply, it will not be directly felt by consumers. “We do not see an immediate [petroleum] shortage for now," Monsada pointed out. The Energy Department said it is coordinating with the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority for the possible lifting of the truck ban for petroleum products. Another contingency plan oil firms proposed was the use of barges and tankers to deliver the petroleum products from Batangas to Manila, the Energy Department said. Monsada said the Energy Department is also in talks with other oil companies that will not be affected by pipeline shutdown to provide the market with adequate supply. The department has been working with the Makati government and other government agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Bureau of Mines and Geosciences. “The Energy Department has always been there, because our concern is supply and safety. For supply you can divert your sources," Monsada said. FPIC president Leonides Garde said the company is “exerting all efforts to find the source of the petroleum seepage but at the moment our major concern is public safety and welfare that is why we closed the pipeline for the meantime." — JE, GMANews.TV

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