DOE assesses continued operations of Malampaya

THE Department of Energy is assessing the Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project shallow water platform to ensure continued operations and sustainability amid the power undersupply the country is facing.

The DOE visit to Malampaya on Dec. 8 was spearheaded by businessman Enrique Razon Jr.’s Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. on behalf of the consortium and in partnership with the government as the new operator of Malampaya.

“The Malampaya project signaled the birth of the Philippine natural gas industry. It has not only become a symbol of the country’s journey towards energy self-sufficiency, but it has also become a symbol of national pride,” Prime Infra president and chief executive Guillaume Lucci said.

“Given the urgency to sustain the operations of Malampaya at a time of great energy insecurity, this visit by the DOE officials with the Prime Infra Group to the shallow water platform is timely and necessary.” Lucci said.

Prime Infra recently acquired a 45-percent operating stake in Malampaya through one of its subsidiaries, Prime Energy.

Prime Infra assumed full ownership and control of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. on Nov. 1, 2022, after a successful transition process for a safe and seamless handover of operations.

The move marks the initial foray of Prime Infra into the upstream energy market.

Prime Infra committed to delivering outstanding operational performance and further the potential of Service Contract 38 covering the Malampaya project to ensure the continuity of gas production as long as the reserves can accommodate it.