Gatchalian: Petron refinery resumption a good sign amid pandemic woes

Senator Win Gathalian said reports of Petron Corporation's refinery resuming operation in Bataan by midyear sends a positive signal to the oil and gas industry as it will ensure the continuous employment of at least 3,000 workers and contribute to supply stability which may result in lower fuel prices in the country.

Petron temporarily ceased its refinery operation last February 10 to conduct maintenance activities on key process units and has informed the Department of Energy (DOE) that the shutdown would last for four months. Prior to this, Petron president and chief executive officer Ramon Ang bared plans of possibly permanently shutting down the oil plant that has been operating for 60 years due to huge losses brought about by the pandemic and unresolved taxation issues with the government.

Just recently, the company has announced plans of reopening the refinery plant sometime July following the completion of the company's registration with the Authority of the Freeport of Bataan (AFAB). AFAB-registered companies are entitled to avail of fiscal incentives under the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 or the Omnibus Investments Code of 1987. This would benefit the company in the form of better timing on the payment of value-added tax (VAT) upon the withdrawal of the products from the refinery.

"Saving jobs when there's a spike in new COVID-19 cases is very crucial while we continue to grapple with the impact of this pandemic," the Senate Energy Committee Chairperson said.

Citing 2019 data, Petron has a market demand share of 24.60%, supplying 33.12% of total petroleum products in the country. Petron's refinery has a daily production of 96,980 barrels as of 2019 and produces various petroleum products including diesel, gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), jet fuel, and petrochemicals, Gatchalian said.

Had it proceeded to permanently close the country's sole remaining refinery, almost 1,000 of Petron's refinery workers and 2,000 third party personnel that include suppliers and contractors would have lost their jobs, the senator added.

"The possibility of the scenario wherein our country will be completely dependent on fuel imports for our supply is almost nil, given this development," said Gatchalian.

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Gatchalian: Pagpapatuloy ng operasyon ng Petron refinery magandang senyales sa gitna ng pandemya

Magandang senyales para sa industriya ng langis sa bansa ang balitang pagsisimula muli ng operasyon ng refinery ng Petron Corporation sa Bataan dahil kaakibat nito ang pagpapatuloy ng trabaho para sa humigit-kumulang na 3,000 manggagawa ng kumpaya at kasiguruhan ng suplay ng petrolyo na maaaring magpababa sa presyo ng gasolina, ayon kay Senador Win Gatchalian.

Pansamantalang tumigil sa operasyon ang naturang refinery noong Pebrero 10 para magbigay daan sa maintenance check. Batay sa kanilang naunang abiso sa Department of Energy (DOE), tatagal ito ng apat na buwan.

Bago pa 'yan, inanunsiyo ni Petron president at chief executive officer Ramon Ang na posibleng magsara na ito nang tuluyan kasunod ng pagkalugi dala ng pandemya at mga isyung may kinalaman sa pagbubuwis.

Pero hindi na matutuloy ang bantang permanenteng pagsasara dahil kamakailan lang ay inihayag ng kumpanya na bubuksan nang muli ang planta sa Hulyo kapag natapos na ang pagpaparehistro ng kumpanya sa Authority of the Freeport of Bataan (AFAB). Ang mga registradong kumpanya sa AFAB ay binibigyan ng insentibo o fiscal incentives sa ilalim ng Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 or ang Omnibus Investments Code of 1987 at dahil dito ay magkakaroon na sila ng mas magandang pamamaraan sa pagbabayad ng value-added tax (VAT).

"Ang pagsasalba ng mga trabaho sa panahong tumataas ang bilang ng mga kaso ng COVID-19 ay napakahalaga lalo na't patuloy pa rin ang ating pagsusumikap na malampasan ang epekto ng pandemya," ang sabi ng Senate Energy Committee Chairperson.

Batay sa 2019 na datos, ang Petron ay kumakatawan sa 24.60 porsyento ng market demand share at nagsusuplay ng 33.1 porsyento sa kabuuang pangangailangan sa petrolyo ng bansa. Ang planta ay may arawang produksyon na umaabot sa 96,980 bariles ng langis noong 2019 kabilang na dito ang diesel, gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), jet fuel, at petrochemicals, ani Gatchalian.

Kung hindi napigilan ang tuluyang pagsasara ng natitirang oil refinery sa bansa, aabot sa 1,000 manggagawa ng Petron ang mawawalan ng trabaho, dagdag pa ang 2,000 na kawani ng mga suppliers at contractors ng kumpanya, ayon sa senador.