However, the Total executive acknowledges that the company will come up against stiff competition from other firms that want to join the PNOC-EC (Philippine National Oil Co-Exploration Corp) led project.

Total managing director and president Jeff Attwood confirmed that his company was "looking at the possibility of engaging in the importation of LNG into the Philippines" and that the company wanted to "participate in the re-gasification plant in Bataan." Attwood also confirmed that Total was in talks with PNOC-EC and the Philippines Department of Energy on the matter.

In related news, PNOC has signed an MOU with BP Asia Pacific Pte Ltd and GNPower Ltd Co to develop the downstream natural gas business in the country. Under the terms of the agreement, EC will develop, finance, design, construct, own and operate the proposed gas pipeline that will connect Batangas to Manila. GNPower will handle all aspects of the LNG import terminal that will be part of the Mariveles energy complex in Bataan.

EC is planning to raise around US$70 million to US$80 million to construct the pipeline but it is facing stiff competition from the foreign firms that have shown interest in constructing and operating the US$100 million gas pipeline. Amongst some of these companies are Japan Gas Corp, Korean Gas Corp, Petronas, British Petroleum Plc and Korean Electric Power Co.

The five companies have also expressed an interest in converting the 300 MW Sucat I and 600MW Limay diesel-fired power plants into natural gas facilities.