KNOWLEDGE IS POTENTIAL POWER: DOE-OIMB Director Rino E. Abad delivers the closing remarks during the LNG Training Program on Thursday, 29 August at the SEDA Bonifacio Global City Hotel in Taguig.

Dir. Abad expressed the importance of harnessing the knowledge of our people on LNG and finding ways to further develop our natural gas industry as we push for our country’s aspiration of becoming a regional LNG hub.

TAGUIG CITY –  As part of capacity-building measures in pursuit of downstream energy development, the Department of Energy (DOE), through its Oil Industry Management Bureau (DOE), participated in a two-day training program on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at the Seda Bonifacio Global City Hotel on 28-29 August 2019.

Hosted by the Japan Oil, Gas, and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) in partnership with Tokyo Gas, the training program was customized to focus on the concepts and principles of LNG trading, as well as the needed criteria in the establishment of an LNG import facility. Tokyo Gas experts included Mr. Yuji Kobayashi, Chief Representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Office, who led the sessions on Best Practices and Lessons Learned from LNG Operations in Japan, and the LNG Value Chain; Mr. Daisuke Shinozuka, who discussed LNG Markets and Sale and Purchase Agreements; and Mr. Makoto Yamada, Deputy Chief Representative of the Manila City Office, who delivered a presentation on Regulatory Systems and LNG Receiving Terminal Criteria. 

“Given the highly dynamic nature of the energy industry, we always welcome opportunities to deepen the knowledge of our officials and personnel. While we still have some ways to go in terms of realizing our LNG goals, arming our people with the technical wherewithal is one basic yet core component which should be fulfilled,” DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said.  

Since 2018, JOGMEC has been conducting LNG training programs across Asia to enhance knowledge and understanding on LNG, and help develop the market in the region. 

In addition to the DOE, among those present were participants from the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), PNOC-Exploration Corporation, Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine Coast Guard, Marina, Bureau of Customs, the House of Representatives, and the Senate of the Philippines.

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