Philippine Malampaya fields can contribute half of domestic power needs

The combined natural gas and oil fields of Camago-Malampaya could contribute to nearly half of the country's daily requirements in terms of power sources, according to the Department of Energy. When the natural gas fields are fully commissioned, there will have an aggregate capacity of 3,000-MW or equivalent to 25 % of the country's present installed capacity nationwide.
Likewise, if the oil rim in the same general field is found commercially viable, it can supply roughly 15 % of the country's daily requirements. Energy Secretary Mario Tiaoqui said that the development and full exploitation of the Camago-Malampaya gas and oil fields will further reduce the country's dependence on imported fuels while tapping and maximizing "energy sources from our backyards."
Tiaoqui said the sizeable gas fields will be on stream in 2002 while it will be commissioned in October 2001. "The commercial operation of the Malampaya gas field will usher in our very own natural gas industry and it will put the Philippines in the world league of natural gas producers. It is the Shell Group of Companies that is spearheading this landmark project for us," he pointed out.

Aside from Shell Philippines Exploration (Spex), Texaco of the US and the Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) formed the consortium working on the natural gas and oil fields located in southern Palawan. Recent studies indicate that the Malampaya field also has an oil rim that has reserves of 250,000 to 300,000 mm barrels which makes it the largest oil discovery in the Philippines.
The energy secretary said that Shell will conduct extended production test in June next year resulting in a production output 25,000 bpd of oil. "If the resource is found commercially viable, oil production will be raised to 50,000," he added. Meanwhile, the energy department stressed the importance of fully developing the new and renewable energy sources (NREs) if the country will dramatically reduce its dependence on imported fossil-fuel.
Global concern for the environment has put emphasis on the need to commercialise more clean and green technologies. The existence of the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 in the international community, and the Philippine Clean Air Act demonstrate the seriousness of global warning and pollution.

Tiaoqui revealed that the country's most active partner in the NRE technology is the European community. "At the moment we have joint programs with the Belgian Agency for Development, the German Agency for Technical Cooperation, and also the governments of Spain and the Netherlands for various NRE installations around the country," he said.
In a recent study conducted with the US Department of Energy, it was shown that the Philippines has a wind generation potential of 70,000 MW. And by 2002, the government is looking forward to operating the first commercial wind farm with the help of the Danish government.