PTT expansion shifts to rollout of small stations

MANILA, Philippines - PTT Philippines Corp., the local unit of Thailand’s largest petroleum company, will push through with the rollout of smaller stations as part of its aggressive expansion in the country.

Announced in May, the original plan was to introduce a couple of compact stations in Luzon to penetrate smaller communities.

However, plans for the compact stations were revised and were green-lit for rollout this year, PTT marketing director Thitiroj Rergsumran said.

The revision mainly involved the costing of the stations.

“When we tested the market, we found something to correct. We sent back the comments back to PTT Bangkok and made the correction. We just got approval earlier this month so we can kick off next year,” Rergsumran said.

The mini stations will range between 800 to 1,000 square meters to meet the head office’s standards for fire safety and fuel tanks, PTT Philippines president and CEO Sukanya Seriyothin noted.

This compares with the 1,200 to 1,800 sqm. land area of a regular station. The company also has a 2,000 sqm. property in Pampanga, its biggest station.

Seriyothin noted a regular station will take three months to build while a compact station can be constructed in only 15 to 20 days.

Putting up compact stations will depend on the location, like cities with small roads and communities.

“Later on, we will have in some areas compact stations. But we will still go with the big station (for our expansion),” Seriyothin said.

For 2016, PTT Philippines will open 15 new stations across the country, which does not include the compact stations.

Rergsumran noted investment for the compact stations will be through dealership.

“We will go to dealer-owned stations to help the dealer save on costs, and then operate the station eventually,” he said.