The listed company said subsidiary Topline Logistics and Development Corp. signed a sublease agreement for an approximately 30-million-liter fuel depot facility in Cebu.
This marks the first phase of the planned Top Line Energy Complex targeted for completion by the fourth quarter of 2026.
The scale closely mirrors Top Line’s original pre-IPO vision, when the company planned to build two major depots in Mactan and Bohol with a combined 30-million-liter storage capacity.
But after resizing its IPO in 2025 and lowering fundraising targets, the company shifted focus toward the rapid expansion of its Light Fuels retail network, pushing the larger depot strategy into the background.
Management’s view
“We are entering our next phase of growth, and the Top Line Energy Complex is a cornerstone for our continued expansion,” said Eugene Erik Lim, chair, president, and CEO of Top Line said.
“Through this agreement, we are strengthening our ability and capacity to expand to serve the growing energy needs of our customers while supporting broader efforts to improve regional energy security,” he added.
Critical fuel supply
With its retail footprint growing and fuel logistics becoming increasingly critical, Top Line appears ready to revisit that expansion plan through a less capital-heavy approach by refurbishing and optimizing an existing facility instead of building entirely new depots from scratch.
Once completed, the project is expected to expand Top Line’s current 10-million-liter storage capacity by around 300 percent, significantly strengthening its logistics reach, operational efficiency and supply reliability across the region.
The company also hinted this could be only the beginning, saying discussions are already underway for succeeding phases that may significantly expand storage capacity further depending on market demand.
‘Once fully developed, the Top Line Energy Complex is envisioned to become a key logistics and distribution hub for TOP’s fuel operations,” the company said.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
