PNOY LAUDS KEPPEL SUBIC SHIPYARD PROJECT

 

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has lauded the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power project as a tangible sign of what Public-Private Partnerships can lead to.  “At present, we import an estimated 336,300 barrels of crude oil per calendar day for our energy consumption. But with the full operation of Malampaya, our reliance on oil imports will decrease. Our nation’s energy security is consequently ensured,” he said in a message read by Energy Undersecretary Josefina Patricia Asirit during the strike steel ceremony at the Keppel Subic Shipyard recently.

He added that further development of the natural gas industry will also help create more jobs and attract the entry of local and foreign investments in the country with Phase III alone expected to generate around 1,200 careers.  Aquino said “From eliminating corrupt practices in government and society, to building a competitive and stable business environment; from integrating infrastructure and systems, to creating measures to protect our environment and resources, brick by brick, we are rebuilding our nation.

Our strategy these past two years: to engage the whole political and social spectrum–from the public sphere to the private sector, from the highest levels of office to the social base–in moving our nation forward on the straight path to progress.”  Aquino called on the private stakeholders to “hand-in-hand work harder to build a better Philippines. We know that with our continued partnership, we can affect greater, more meaningful change for individual Filipinos, their communities, and ultimately, the entire nation. We have laid the foundations; together, we can create bigger things, attain higher aspirations, and leave a more lasting legacy to future generations of Filipinos.”

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 Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. 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.

The strike steel ceremony is a tradition in offshore industry to mark the start of construction. Aquino was not able to grace the occasion as he was in Mindanao overseeing rescue and relief operations in Mindanao provinces stricken by typhoon Pablo.  Phase III’s 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. (WLB/CLJD-PIA 3)