(Taguig City) As part of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) long-term goal to ensure energy security, the DOE will be launching the 5th Philippine Energy Contracting Round (PECR5) on 09 May 2014 for the exploration of potential coal and petroleum areas in the country.
The PECR5 will offer eleven (11) areas for petroleum exploration with large concentration in Luzon, and fifteen (15) areas for coal exploration, mostly located in Mindanao.
Contrary to previous reports of areas offered in the Bangsamoro, “no areas will be offered at the proposed Cooperation Development Areas at the Bangsamoro,” said Energy Undersecretary Ramon Allan Oca, who is also Chairman of the DOE Review and Evaluation Committee (REC).
During the launch, the DOE will unveil the PECR5 website and an exhibit of the different areas to be offered. Around 400 participants, including national and local executives, officials from the DOE and attached agencies, concerned government agencies, and local and foreign investors, are expected at the event.
Moreover, the DOE will also be conducting international roadshows to encourage more energy players abroad to join the contracting round: South East Asia Petroleum Exploration Society (SEAPEX) event on 10-14 June 2014 in Singapore; North America Prospect Expo South (NAPE South) on 20-22 August 2014 in Houston, Texas; and AAPG International Conference and Exhibition on 14-17 September 2014 in Istanbul, Turkey.
The DOE will also conduct a series of information, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns in the host communities and areas near the exploration areas starting this month. The IEC for petroleum will be in Palawan, Mindoro, Iloilo, and Sulu, while the IEC for coal will be in Isabela, Albay, Cebu, Davao, and Zamboanga.
It may be recalled that on 24 February 2014, the DOE issued the PECR5 Circular (DC2014-02-0005), which reiterates the government’s promotion of the exploration, development, and production of the country’s indigenous petroleum and coal resources through a transparent and competitive system for awarding service and operating contracts with local and foreign investors.
For more details on the timelines and guidelines of the PECR5, please visit the DOE website:www.doe.gov.ph.