Prime Energy Resources Development B.V. said Friday it is undertaking preparatory measures for the two-week scheduled maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power project in northwest Palawan.
Prime Energy, a subsidiary of businessman Enrique Razon Jr.’s Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc., will conduct the SMS on Feb. 4 to Feb. 18 as part of a planned maintenance activity in Malampaya to ensure that the equipment and assets within the facility operate safely, reliably and efficiently to avert any untoward incidents that can affect the continuous gas supply to the power plants.
“The scheduled maintenance shutdown is a preventive maintenance activity that is executed at regular intervals to ensure that the Malampaya project continues to produce safe and reliable energy to supply the grid and meet the power requirements of the country,” Prime Energy general manager Sebastian Quiniones said.
Prime Energy said more than the usual number of activities is expected around the sites and host communities in Barangays Tabangao, Ambulong, Libjo, San Isidro and Malitam in Batangas in preparation for the SMS.
It said there would be more contractors and workforce in the area and more cargo movements at Batangas port.
The company said the gas supply would temporarily stop throughout the SMS, requiring the power plants that use Malampaya gas to switch to alternate fuel sources.
The fence-line communities will also experience flaring with loud noise at the onshore gas plant.
Maintenance work on the flare system is necessary to depressurize the whole gas plant from hydrocarbons, it said.
Prime Energy said this year’s maintenance program is done in continuous coordination with the Department of Energy and was communicated in advance to relevant stakeholders.
Prime Energy sent notification letters to the DOE and its customers, including First Gen Corp. and other power plants, as early as May 2022 and attended briefings with the DOE in December 2022 and January 2023.
Prime Energy also scheduled engagement meetings with the local government units in Batangas province, including the governor, the mayor of Batangas City, the Bureau of Fire and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office this month.
It also scheduled a series of briefings for the barangay leaders of the fence-line communities.
The DOE earlier said it would ensure ample power supply once the SMS begins in February.
The department said it was working with relevant parties to execute several contingency measures, such as the designation of “must-run” plants or power plants required to supply electricity to the grid regardless of any conditions.
Malampaya regularly performs maintenance on its facilities. It has produced safe and reliable energy for the Philippines for over 20 years.
The project harnessed indigenous natural gas to reduce oil imports, contribute to better air quality and generate $13 billion or over P1 trillion in revenues for the local government, making it one of the country’s most important power assets.
The project continues to power up to 20 percent of Luzon’s total electricity requirements since 2001.
Prime Energy recently formed an advisory council composed of technical experts and key industry leaders to ensure the long-term success of Malampaya’s multi-year exploration and development programs.