SENATE Committee on Energy chair Pia Cayetano is pushing for the development of indigenous gas resources as a long-term solution to national energy security and reliability.
Cayetano made the statement after visiting the Malampaya Shallow Water Platform located 50 kilometers off the coast of Palawan last Friday.
“When you experience this (visit) and you see the kind of investments that goes into ensuring energy security and energy reliability. Reliability is you will have power 24/7, security is when you have access and that is where indigenous (gas) comes in,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano said a local source of natural gas gives the country more security and developing it should be a priority.
The Malampaya deepwater gas-to-power project is the country’s first and only indigenous gas resource off the province of Palawan. It supplies about 20 percent of Luzon’s electricity needs and has significantly contributed to the nation’s energy independence since 2001.
“Our next big challenge is exploration and ensuring energy supply for the next 15, 20 years. Because our supply now is based on the planning that was done 20 to 30 years ago…It’s about planning long-term. That’s what I hope I can bring to the discussion and help by way of policymaking,” Cayetano said.
Guillaume Lucci, Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. president and chief executive officer, said Cayetano’s visit coincides with Malampaya’s continuous preparation for its phase 4 drilling program which aims to drill and tie-in two new deepwater wells starting 2025 and produce new gas by 2026.
“We remain committed to supporting the Department of Energy’s initiatives to enhance the development of the country’s indigenous fuel resources the idea being that gas is a natural transition fuel as the Philippines moves towards renewable energy,” Lucci said.
Donnabel Kuizon Cruz, Prime Energy managing director and general manager, said exploration and development of a late-life gas field like Malampaya requires extraordinary feats of engineering.
