A NEW 7-hectare port and industrial complex is being built in Lemery, Batangas, with over P3 billion in investments, featuring a state-of-the-art cement silo and oil storage facility.

The complex will comprise three main components that will cost around P1 billion each: the Sinisian Lemery Batangas Port and Industrial Park; Lemery Cement Silo Tank; and the Lemery Oil Terminal.

"After we experienced a setback during the pandemic, the oil storage and distribution facility will be essential to increase the fuel inventory/security, support the increase in demand and improve logistics, particularly for NCR (National Capital Region), Calabarzon and Southern Luzon," Ferdinand Co, president of Sinisian Lemery Port, said in a statement.

The port will feature a draft depth of 15 meters, capable of accommodating Panamax-sized oil tankers and cargo ships ranging from 50,000 to 80,000 deadweight tons. Typically, these vessels have physical dimensions of 965 feet in length, a beam of 106 feet and a draft of 39.5 feet.

The cement silo, meanwhile, will have a storage capacity of 60,000 metric tons of bulk cement and slag.

In line with the government's initiative to build more infrastructure through the Build Better More program, Co emphasized the importance of the country having an adequate supply of high-quality cement and slag for Calabarzon, especially amid the current global supply disruptions.

"We should be ready to provide enough and high-quality cement and slag supply to the Calabarzon area," said Co.

Calabarzon comprises the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

"Our cement silo facility should help ensure availability of a major construction material," he added.

Scheduled to commence full commercial operations by January 2025, the Lemery Oil Terminal will have a storage capacity exceeding 170 million liters. It has secured Unioil Petroleum Inc. as its major oil importer and distributor, serving as client and tenant for the oil terminal, according to Sinisian Lemery Port.

Co said that the oil terminal will contribute to meeting the country's fuel security needs. Once the project starts operation, it will generate a minimum of 200 direct new jobs initially.

With their family business primarily focused on cement and construction supply trading, Co said that their decision to expand into industrial storage facilities aims to mitigate the impact of global supply chain disruptions experienced during the pandemic, which also affected domestic industries.

He said that the effects of supply chain disruption still continued to plague economies globally due to conflicts and geopolitical tension.