日经：千代田化工与日本工营启动菲律宾石油储备基地现场调查，两址各1500万桶但仅处调查阶段、无合同与金额

MANILA -- Chiyoda is moving toward building oil reserves in the Philippines, part of a wave of Japanese companies providing relief to Southeast Asian economies hurting from energy supply disruptions caused by the Iran war.
Chiyoda and Nippon Koei have begun on-site surveys for oil storage sites. Potential locations include a refinery operated by Philippine energy giant Petron in the northern part of the country. Chiyoda has experience designing Petron facilities.
With Chiyoda and Nippon Koei involved in the surveys, "I think eventually there may be more direct management when it comes to implementation," said Alessandro Sales, undersecretary at the Philippine Energy Department.
"We seek to support the project from initial consideration to design and construction," said a Chiyoda representative.
There will be two new storage sites, according to Sales, each with a 15-million-barrel capacity. Although details have yet to be finalized, the plan is to have the Philippines hold 90 days' worth of supply in reserves, including existing private stores.
Southeast Asia tends to be deeply reliant on the Middle East for energy procurement due to geographical proximity. Supply diversification and a shift away from fossil fuels has become an urgent necessity.
The Japanese government and other partners are looking to support upgrades to energy supply chains in the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand.
As of March, Middle East crude oil imports accounted for over 90% of the Philippines' total supply, and the nation held only about 50 days of reserves. In contrast, Japan has approximately 250 days of reserves.
The Philippines has been significantly affected by the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran war. The government declared a national energy emergency in March.
Last week, the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) opened a ministerial meeting in Manila. AZEC is cooperation framework between Japan and Southeast Asia.
Officials from major oil producers Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were also invited to the meeting. A work plan was formulated to expand oil reserves and to jointly release supplies during emergencies.
Chiyoda designs and constructs oil refineries and liquefied natural gas plants. Following the oil crisis of the 1970s, the engineering company built oil reserve sites in Japan.
In 1995, Chiyoda established a Philippine subsidiary that employs approximately 500 people and is involved in local infrastructure construction.
"We have many engineers within our group, so we can engage in the construction of new reserve oil bases," said Naoki Kobayashi, senior executive vice president at Chiyoda. The company is exploring collaborations with local companies in its quest to secure a final contract.
Other Japanese companies are lending their support for energy security in Southeast Asia. Energy group Idemitsu has delivered crude oil from the UAE and Oman to the Nghi Son refinery in Vietnam, of which Idemitsu owns a stake. The crude was shipped without passing through Hormuz.
Tokyo Gas will participate in LNG infrastructure development in Indonesia. The project will build LNG receiving terminals at six locations on Sulawesi Island and the Maluku Islands. This effort will promote a shift from diesel to LNG as the fuel for power generation.
JERA, Japan's largest electricity producer, will advise major Philippine utility AboitizPower on improving the efficiency of its coal-fired power plants. JERA is an investor in Aboitiz.
In the Philippines, thermal power accounts for around 60% of the power generation mix. However, aging power plants have caused frequent outages. JERA will apply its expertise in Japanese operation and maintenance to support stable power supplies.
Kei Takagi, Japan's state minister of economy, trade and industry, met with Philippine Energy Secretary Sharon Garin on the sidelines of the AZEC meeting. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on nuclear energy.