SPEx: Malampaya remains operational

By Lenie Lectura -April 2, 2020
from Business Mirror

Shell Philippines Exploration BV (SPEx), operator of the Malampaya deep-water gas-to-power project, on Thursday assured unhampered operation of the gas facility which supplies up to 40 percent of the Luzon grid’s power requirements.

Amid the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, SPEx said the gas facility should be operational 24 hours a day to sustain the operations of hospitals and vital facilities.

SPEx said critical personnel are ferried to the offshore platform, as well as the needed materials and supplies to safely operate and maintain the facility.

“We’ve taken measures to ensure that we can keep the offshore platform and the onshore gas plant staffed even with the current, difficult circumstances,” said Don Paulino, SPEx Managing Director and General Manager. “Our commitment to the country remains, our operations will work round-the-clock to produce Malampaya natural gas and power up to 40 percent of Luzon’s electricity.”

SPEx added that stringent measures are in place to ensure the health and well-being of its workforce, such as screening of workers and implementing specific

coronavirus disease 2019 protocols for hygiene and social distancing measures offshore, as well as medical evacuation.

“We need power to keep hospitals running; sustain the operations of pharmacies, banks, groceries, and other vital facilities; enable internet services that keep us connected; and to light our households. Now, more than ever, energy is needed to power our nation,” said Shell companies in the Philippines Chairman Cesar Romero.