Malampaya workers’ restrictions could hinder power operations–DOE
By Lenie Lectura -March 20, 2020
from Business Mirror
THE Department of Energy (DOE) on Thursday stressed the importance of the Malampaya Gas Field as a deep-water gas-to-power project which delivers 20 percent of the country’s electricity requirement.
DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the operator of the gas project, Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (Spex), has raised concerns on the possible access restriction of critical operational and engineering staff and contractors, including vehicles used for transport purposes in NCR; continuation of the operations of the Batangas Supply Base in Batangas Port; continuation of the operations of marine supply vessels and other support vessels that berth in Palawan and Batangas; and the need for unhindered crew change cycles of offshore personnel operating the Malampaya platform.
Cusi said these concerns were addressed though the issuance of a memorandum on March 14, to ensure the unimpeded delivery of energy services during the enhanced community quarantine imposed in Luzon.
He said the memorandum on the unimpeded delivery of energy services was disseminated to all energy industry stakeholders for their guidance in establishing the necessary measures to effectively address concerns on the continuity of their respective operations.
Still, the energy chief called on the full support of the government agencies and the local government units to exempt the delivery of goods and the movement of Spex’s personnel from the lockdown, given the major role of Malampaya in providing power supply to the Luzon grid.
“We call on for the full support of various government agencies, as well as all our service contractors, as we fulfill our mandate to provide reliable power services to our people. The DOE is always open and ready to address all the concerns of our stakeholders,” DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said.
The agency’s Oil Industry Management Bureau, meanwhile, has implemented the following initiatives to ensure unhampered energy services in the downstream oil industry:
