DOE: 900k barrels of diesel to arrive this April

The country is expecting the arrival of 900,000 barrels of diesel in the country this month, of which 300,000 barrels will arrive on Friday, the Department of Energy (DOE) said on Tuesday.

Earlier, the DOE said three batches of barrels – consisting of 300,000 each – that are expected to arrive in the country this April, totaling 900,000 barrels. 

“Ang first cargo for April, ang confirmed date is April 10… So ang source niya from Malaysia through Singapore trader,” said Energy Undersecretary Alessandro Sales in a press briefing. 

(The first cargo for April, the confirmed date is April 10... So its source is from Malaysia through a Singapore trader.) 

The next two batches of diesel are expected to arrive by the second and third week of April. 

“’Yung next two cargos, may window pa siya: second week of April, the second to third week of April, and then third week of April. So ang nominated source would be North Asia and potentially India for these two cargos,” Sales added.

(For the next two cargos, there is still a window: second week of April, the second to third week of April, and then third week of April. So the nominated source would be North Asia and potentially India for these two cargoes.) 

The country has already ordered and confirmed 1.042 million barrels or 165.7 million liters of diesel, of which 142,000 barrels arrived from Japan starting March 26.

On April 3, the DOE said the country has 75.052 million liters of fuel supply which is expected to be enough for 50 days.

The country currently has 2.516 million liters (47.26 days’ worth) of diesel. 

After the arrival of the 900,000 barrels of diesel this month, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the country is looking forward to diversifying its sources. 

“We will diversify the resource, meaning we need to diversify the source countries just to de-risk our industry. Para halimbawa kapag may mangyari, kapag nag-worsen si Middle East, at least we have other options like Americas, even Africa, Australia. So kailangan mag-open tayo ng agreements there, so that we can access also from other countries,” she said. 

(We will diversify the resource, meaning we need to diversify the source countries just to de-risk our industry. So that, for example, if something happens – if the situation in the Middle East worsens – at least we have other options like the Americas, even Africa, or Australia. So we need to open agreements there, so that we can access supply also from other countries.) — JMA, GMA News