Top government officials led by Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi (8th from left) join counterparts from FGEN LNG led by chairman Federico R. Lopez (9th from left) in opening two casks of sake during the kagami biraki. Also in photo are (from left) Jonathan Russell, First Gen EVP and chief commercial officer; Beverley Rose Dimacuha, Batangas City mayor; Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Energy Committee; Giles Puno, First Gen president and COO; Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, chairman of the House Committee on Energy; Rep. Mario Vittorio Marino, Fifth District of Batangas; Hermilando Mandanas, Batangas governor; Makoto Iyori, minister for economic affairs of the Embassy of Japan; and Kunio Nohata, Tokyo Gas senior managing executive officerFirst Gen LNG Corporation’s LNG terminal project held its kagami biraki groundbreaking ceremony at the First Gen Clean Energy Complex (FGCEC) in Batangas City on May 28, 2019.

FGEN LNG has now completed significant predevelopment work for its planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal located at FGCEC in Batangas City to make the project site “construction ready.”

“A kagami biraki ceremony is held to mark the start of something new as symbolized by the act of breaking open a round sake barrel representing harmony and good luck. It is then considered that the transition has taken place,” said Kunio Nohata, member of the board, senior managing executive officer and chief executive of the Global Gas Division.

"Given the joint development agreement between Tokyo Gas and First Gen, we consider that the holding of a kagami biraki ceremony is an appropriate way for First Gen and Tokyo Gas to celebrate our collaboration, the completion of the significant predevelopment work and the commencement of the next phase of the development of the project,” said Federico R. Lopez, chairman and CEO of First Gen.

First Gen signed a joint development agreement (JDA) with Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. last December 5, 2018. The JDA is a preliminary agreement between the parties to jointly pursue development of FGEN LNG’s LNG terminal project.

When completed, the LNG terminal will allow the country to import LNG and ensure a continuing stable supply of clean energy once the Malampaya gas field is depleted