DOE warns of tight power reserves in Luzon starting June 15
Luzon faces potential power supply strains over the coming weeks as the Department of Energy (DOE) announced a month-long scheduled maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya deepwater gas-to-power project starting Monday, June 15.
In a statement released Friday, June 12, the DOE said the maintenance period was coordinated with industry stakeholders to ensure the Shallow Water Platform and Onshore Gas Plant continue to operate safely, reliably, and efficiently.
The preventive turnaround is designed to avert operational incidents that could disrupt the continuous supply of natural gas to client power plants.
During the month-long shutdown, gas supply from Malampaya will be temporarily halted, requiring dependent power plants to switch to alternative fuel sources. The scheduled turnaround will cover key facilities at the Shallow Water Platform in offshore northwest Palawan and the Onshore Gas Plant in Tabangao, Batangas City. Planned activities include integrity inspections, control and mechanical system servicing, and safety-critical maintenance works.
Beyond routine upkeep, this particular shutdown will facilitate the crucial tie-in of the Malampaya East-1R1 (MAE-1R1) and Camago-3S3 (CA-3S3) wells. Integrating these newly discovered wells into the project’s existing infrastructure is expected to bolster the nation’s indigenous natural gas supply and significantly extend the operational lifespan of the gas field.
The energy department noted that it will continue to coordinate with all concerned stakeholders to ensure the success of the turnaround and maintain public confidence in the country’s energy infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the DOE and the National Power Corporation (NPC) have switched on 5-megawatt (MW) generator sets in Catanduanes to minimize the risk of rotational brownouts in the island province.
The power supply will be complemented by generator sets from Isla Dagyab Energy Corp. under its second Emergency Power Supply Agreement (EPSA 2), which was awarded by the First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FICELCO) last May 29.
“Once fully operational, the EPSA 2 units are expected to deliver an additional 8 MW of power to the province,” the DOE said.
Testing and commissioning activities are currently underway, with the units targeted to go online by June 14, ahead of full commercial operations on June 15. Given that the area has long suffered from persistent power supply disruptions, the facility is expected to provide immediate relief and capacity to local communities.
“Together with the additional capacity being brought online through EPSA 2, these measures demonstrate the national government's commitment to addressing the energy needs of Catanduanes and ensuring that residents, businesses, schools, hospitals, and other vital institutions receive a more stable electricity service,” said Energy Secretary Sharon Garin. (Gabriell Christel Galang)