I Squared Capital has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Philippines Coastal Storage & Pipeline Corporation (PCSPC) and its affiliated entities.
Located in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and serving the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), Philippines Coastal is the largest independent import terminal in the Philippines, boasting a storage capacity of 6.3 million barrels. The facility accounts for over 20% of the nation’s import storage capacity.
Philippines Coastal is essential for the reliable importation of liquid fuel products, meeting the needs of major commodity suppliers and strategic partners. Its deep-water jetties and prime location make it an ideal hub for servicing the metro Manila and North Luzon markets, catering to large institutional players involved in fuel imports. The terminal operates under USD-denominated take-or-pay contracts with reputable customers, with whom it has established long-term relationships.
In April 2024, a steering committee was launched by President Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. This initiative aims to enhance infrastructure development within the LEC, facilitating connectivity between Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas. Philippines Coastal is set to play a crucial role in enabling future investments in the corridor.
Harsh Agrawal, Senior Partner at I Squared, stated, “Philippines Coastal is a critical infrastructure asset that supports the increasing energy demands of the Philippines. As urbanization progresses and the middle class expands, fuel consumption is on the rise. We see significant opportunities to enhance the asset’s capabilities to meet this growing domestic demand and to diversify into the storage of biofuels and sustainable aviation fuel.”
Since 1993, Philippines Coastal has operated under a 50-year lease with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), with an option to extend the lease by an additional 15 years. The facility spans nearly 160 hectares and includes 91 tanks for various fuel types. It features two jetties, with the main jetty accommodating Medium Range 1 vessels (up to 50,000 DWT) and a secondary jetty designated for transshipment to other islands in the country.
Philippines Coastal serves a substantial portion of the nation’s fuel demand, supplying over 55% of jet fuel and more than 35% of diesel and gasoline. There is a growing need for sustainable fuels such as ethanol and coconut-based biodiesel. The Philippines leads Southeast Asia in sustainable fuel blending, with the government recently raising the biodiesel blending requirement to 3%, set to increase to 5% in the coming years. Additionally, the 20% ethanol blending in gasoline is currently voluntary, but the government is considering making it mandatory in the future. Philippines Coastal will be pivotal in supporting energy transition initiatives by establishing world-class storage infrastructure for sustainable fuels.
I Squared is acquiring Philippines Coastal from Keppel Infrastructure Trust in Singapore and Metro Pacific Investment Corporation in the Philippines. The transaction is subject to customary conditions, including antitrust clearance in the Philippines, with the closing anticipated in late 2024, pending the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions.