Iniimbestigahan na rin daw ng Department of Energy (DOE) ang mga ulat ukol sa tax concerns ng kompanyang Petron, kasunod ng plano nitong pagpapasara ng oil refinery nito sa Bataan.
Ayon sa DOE, wala pa silang natatanggap na official notice mula sa kompanya na may kinalaman sa usap-usapang plano na pagpapasara ng pasilidad.
“The Department of Energy (DOE) has yet to receive any notification from Petron Corporation on its alleged plan to permanently close its refinery in Limay, Bataan.”
Kasama ng kagawaran ang Department of Finance sa pagsusuri ng sinasabing mga issue sa buwis ng kompanya. Pinag-aaralan na rin daw nila ang posibleng epekto ng pagsasara ng refinery.
“At the same time, we are also evaluating how a closure scenario would impact pricing, as well as the country’s energy security.”
Sa isang virtual briefing nitong umaga, sinabi ni Petron president Ramon Ang na malapit na nilang isara ang nasabing pasilidad na naglalaman ng 180,000-barrel ng langis. Ang hakbang na ito raw ay dulot din ng COVID-19 pandemic.
Ayon sa business tycoon, higit bilyong piso na ang lugi ng oil company dahil sa pabago-bagong presyo ng langis sa world market.
“The refinery business today is very difficult. Around the world, a lot have shut down… There has to be a level playing field. If Petron will not have a level playing field with the importers, we will shut down for sure. When? Very soon,” ayon sa business tycoon.
Tututukan daw ng Energy department ang developments ng ulat, at mananatiling kaagapay ng stakeholders sa paghahanap ng solusyon.
“But whatever business measures Petron will arrive at in the course of its discussion with the concerned parties, we at the DOE will respect the management’s decision.”
