MANILA, PHILIPPINES | Thursday, October 21, 2004
Oil firms to raise prices weekly by P0.35/liter til November
By BERNARDETTE S. STO DOMINGO, Reporter
Oil companies would implement a weekly increase of 35 centavos a liter for diesel products to recoup under-recoveries of between PhP2 to PhP3 per liter, an official of the Independent Philippine Petroleum Companies Association (IPPCA) yesterday said.
Glenn Yu, president of Seaoil Philippines, Inc. and IPPCA vice-president, yesterday said oil companies would have to impose an additional PhP2.00 per liter increase until November on a staggered basis.
This was confirmed by IPPCA Chairman Fernando L. Martinez, noting that high prices of oil in the world market were pushing local prices up. Mr. Martinez is also the president of Eastern Petroleum Corp.
"It is highly possible that (price increases may extend until next month), unless the trend in the world market is reversed," he said in an interview.
This developed as small oil retailers which account for 15% of the local oil market, yesterday increased diesel and kerosene prices between 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m., citing continued increase of prices in the world market.
Eastern Petroleum, Seaoil, and Unioil Philippines raised diesel and kerosene prices by 35 centavos a liter effective 6 a.m. yesterday. Flying V increased diesel and kerosene prices by 45 centavos at 12:01 a.m.
Total Philippines Corp. and Caltex Philippines, Inc. also increased diesel and kerosene prices Tuesday by 35 centavos a liter for diesel and kerosene. Early this week, Total and Caltex also raised prices of liquefied petroleum gas by 50 centavos per kilogram.
For its part, oil refiner Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. also announced that it has diesel and kerosene prices by 35 centavos a liter effective 12:01 a.m. yesterday.
Energy Sec. Vincent S. Perez Jr. on Tuesday asked oil companies to limit any price increase even as he warned of higher fuel prices in the coming months. The tight supply of diesel, which is used as heating fuel in the winter months in the United States and Europe, has kept its price on steady uptrend, Mr. Perez said.
There were also disruptions in production because of an oil workers' strike and threats of rebel attacks in Nigeria, production losses in the Gulf of Mexico due to several hurricanes, continuing violence in Iraq, and the ongoing legal and financial problems of Yukos, Russia's largest oil company.
DIESEL-ENHANCER
As this developed, Seaoil yesterday launched Bio Exceed, a diesel-enchancing product aimed at providing 25% improvement on diesel engine efficiency translating to cost-savings of more than PhP1 per liter of fuel for motorists.
Seaoil has 88 gasoline stations nationwide and has a 3% market share in terms of stations.
"If for example, customers are paying PhP22.50 per liter for diesel but if Bio Exceed is blended as an additive, it's as if they are paying only PhP21.50 because it gives improved mileage, better fuel efficiency and longer engine life," Mr. Yu said during a product launch.
He said Seaoil was looking at expanding production and possibly exporting the product to Japan.
"We are proud to offer the Filipino public a product that not only helps cut down fuel costs but also helps uplift the country's economy as a whole. With the current trend of increasing oil prices, we found it necessary to look into alternative sources of energy to reduce our dependence on imported fuels," Mr. Yu said.
The new product does not require engine modification and can be used at once, he said. Bio Exceed is made from trans-esterified coconut oil or coco methyl ester. It can be used as an enchancer of diesel fuel or as a total substitute for it.


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