MANILA, Oct. 5 (PNA) — The new platform of the Malampaya power station, which costs US$ 1 billion, has started to produce its gas supply to three power plants of the Luzon grid.
In a statement Monday, Shell Philippines Exploration, B.V. said the new locally assembled platform will continue to power a third of homes and businesses in the country.
The platform will enhance the capability of the consortium to continue on supplying the three natural gas fired power plants of the country until 2024, namely Sta. Rita, San Lorenzo and Ilijan.
The new depletion compression platform is adjacent to the existing Malampaya Shallow Water Platform, located some 50km offshore from Palawan in western Philippines. It was installed by 1,400 Filipino workers in two years at the Keppel Shipyard in Subic, Zambales.
The self installing platform is a first of its kind in the country.
Energy officer-in-charge (OIC) secretary Zenaida Monsada said in a speech Monday during the platform inauguration held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel that “the power station contributes about 2,700 megawatts (MW) of power to the Luzon grid.”
She added the government had bagged PhP219 billion as part of the government’s share in the consortium.
Aside from the platform inauguration, the Malampaya consortium is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Service Contract 38, where the Malampaya well was discovered. It was signed during the term of former President Corazon Aquino on December 1990.
SPEX B.V. managing director Sebastian Quiniones said “Malampaya is a symbol of the country’s continuous journey towards energy self-sufficiency. The commissioning and startup of its latest phase is a testament to what the Filipino workforce can achieve to fuel the country’s growth and progress.”
The Malampaya consortium is composed of SPEX B.V., Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI) and Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corp. (PNOC-EC). (PNA)