European union envoys inspect Malampaya Platform at Keppel Subic

 

EUROPEAN UNION (EU) ambassadors in the Philippines recently inspected the ongoing construction of the Second Malampaya Gas Platform at the Keppel Subic Shipyard in Cabangaan Point, Subic, Zambales.

The delegation consisted of Guy Ledoux of EU, Constantina Koliou of Greece, Massimo Roscigno of Italy, Roland Van Remoortele of Belgium and Josef Muellner of Austria.

“Several European companies are involved in this endeavor that promises to secure an important source of revenue for the Philippines while creating new jobs for well-trained Filipinos in their own country,” Ledoux said.

He also expressed confidence that the Philippines will be the center of investments in Asia.

“We are convinced that many opportunities or more European job-creating investments exist. European businesses are closely following developments here, in particular with respect to reforms in customs, competition and public procurement, as they make their investment decisions,” the EU diplomat added.

For his part, Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) Managing Director Sebastian Quiniones expressed optimism that the investment can boost the good relationship between Philippines and EU.

“We are happy to welcome the EU delegates to the Malampaya Phase 3 Fabrication Yard and showcase a technological innovation. The relationship between EU and the Philippines has been a longstanding one and we are positive that this partnership will continue to broaden and deepen our ties and help each other progress as nations,” Quiniones said.

To date, EU is the largest investor in the country by stock at P440 billion.

Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power project is one of the largest and most significant endeavors in history heralding the birth of the natural gas industry in the country.

It is spearheaded by Department of Energy (DOE) and developed and operated by SPEX in behalf of joint venture partners Chevron Malampaya LLC and Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation under Service Contract No.38 (SC 38).

Natural gas from Malampaya fuels three stations with a combined capacity of 2,700 megawatts that contributes 40 to 45 percent of Luzon’s power generation requirements, reduce oil imports, and provide a cleaner source of energy.

In order to maintain the level of production and maximize recovery of natural gas from the Malampaya reservoir, DOE and SC 38 consortium are venturing on the next phases of development.

Phase III’s Depletion Compression Platform (DCP) will be the first gas platform to be fully built in the Philippines.

At the Malampaya gas field in Palawan, it will be deployed next to an existing shallow water production platform.

DCP is designed to maintain the current availability and deliverability of natural gas from the field through regulating gas export pressure and flow rates.

It consists of gas compression facilities mounted on a barge deck that is supported by four tubular legs on base footings.

Keppel Subic Shipyard is responsible for the fabrication of the entire DCP including integration of topside modules and production of link bridge between the DCP and shallow water platform.