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Razon's Prime Infra taps ex-Shell exec to lead Malampaya operations
By TED CORDERO,GMA NewsPorts and casino tycoon Enrique Razon Jr.'s Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. has tapped a former executive of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) to lead his company’s operations of the Malampaya gas-to-power project.
In a statement, Prime Infra said Sebastian Quiniones Jr. has been appointed as the general manager of Prime Exploration Pte. Ltd., effective August 17, 2022.
Prime Exploration bought
Dennis Uy’s Malampaya Energy and expressed intent to seek an extension of the Malampaya consortium license.Malampaya Energy acquired SPEX, which holds a 45% operating interest in Service Contract 38 or the Malampaya gas field, in May 2021.
Prime Infra said Quiniones is the former general manager and managing director of SPEX.
“Quiniones' appointment bolsters the commitment of Prime Infra to strengthening its talent capabilities in the upstream industry as it awaits regulatory consent to acquire the shares of the Malampaya operator,” the company said.
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Prime Exploration's acquisition of Malampaya Energy is still subject to the consent of the PNOC Exploration Corporation (PNOC EC) and the Department of Energy.
Prime Infra said that once such consent is given, it will assume full ownership and control of SPEX and “Quiniones will work towards fulfilling the vision of Prime Infra in accelerating investments for the expansion of the Malampaya deep-water gas-to-power project.”
“We are pleased to welcome Mr. Quiniones to the Prime Infra team. It is a reflection of our commitment to ensure that, upon receiving the necessary regulatory approvals and taking over SPEX, we will deliver outstanding operational performance and further the potential of the Service Contract. With his deep industry expertise and unparalleled experience, I am confident that Mr. Quiniones will help ensure that a critical power asset is steered to further development and progress,” said Prime Infra president and CEO Guillaume Lucci.
Prime Infra said Quiniones held various key positions in Shell for the past 41 years.
From 2009 to 2016, he served as SPEX managing director and asset manager, overseeing the upgrade of the Malampaya asset, which involved $1 billion for two new production wells, a depletion compression platform, and upgrades at the Shallow Water Platform and On-Shore Gas Plant, it said.
From 2013 to 2016, he was concurrently a member of the Board of Directors of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, it added. —VBL, GMA News