AFP holds monitoring patrol in Malampaya amid natural gas discovery

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conducted a monitoring patrol and site visit within the Joint Task Force (JTF) Malampaya area to assess readiness in safeguarding its Natural Gas Power Project.

This comes days after President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr announced the discovery of a natural gas reservoir in the Malampaya Field.

AFP Chief of Staff General Rome Brawner Jr led the site visit to demonstrate their "unwavering commitment to protecting strategic national assets that are vital to the Philippines’ energy security and economic stability."

"A briefing was conducted on current security measures, ongoing maritime and air patrol operations, and inter-agency coordination efforts implemented to ensure the continuous and safe operation of the Malampaya facility," AFP said in a statement released on Saturday.

Brawner commended the personnel of JTF Malampaya for their dedication and readiness in carrying out their mandate amid evolving security challenges in the maritime domain.

"The AFP continues to intensify its presence and monitoring operations in key strategic areas as part of its broader mission to defend national sovereignty, uphold maritime rights, and ensure the protection of critical infrastructure essential to national development," the AFP added. 

The Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project, seen from above, is monitored and secured by Joint Task Force Malampaya as part of ongoing efforts to protect critical national infrastructure off the coast of Palawan. Photo by: SSg Rey Ambay PA and PFC Richard Carmelotes PN(M) / PAOAFP

MAE-1

Malampaya East 1 or MAE-1, is located about five kilometers east of the existing Malampaya Field. It is estimated to contain around 98 billion cubic feet of gas in place. 

''Katumbas nito ang halos labing apat na bilyong kilowatt hour ng kuryente sa isang taon. Ibig sabihin, makakapagsuplay ito ng kuryente sa mahigit 5.7 milyong kabahayan, siyam na libo’t limang daan na gusali, o halos dalawang daan libong paaralan sa loob ng isang taon,'' Marcos said. 

(This is equivalent to almost 14 billion kilowatt hours of power in one year. That means it can supply power to more than 5.7 million households, 9,500 buildings, or almost 200,000 schools in one year.)

Marcos said that based on the initial testing, the well flowed at 60 million cubic feet per day, indicating that it has the potential to produce even more and that it is a high productivity resource compared to the original Malampaya wells. 

Marcos said that the MAE-1 is the first milestone under the Malampaya Phase 4 drilling campaign, which also includes the Camago-2 and the Bagong Pag-asa wells. 

''The next steps are the completion and testing of the Camago-3, followed by the drilling of the Pag-asa Exploration well to pursue more potential gas resources,'' added the President. —VAL, GMA Integrated News