MANILA - The Malampaya offshore gas field exceeded its expected deliveries to power plants as the Luzon power grid was placed on red alert on Tuesday amid thin power reserves, the operator of the facility said on Wednesday.  

Prime Energy Resources Development, a unit of Enrique Razon's Prime Infra, said gas supply to customers peaked at 290 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD).

Prime Infra to start new drilling in Malampaya next year

"The total is against the current maximum capacity of Malampaya wells at 262 MMSCFD," Prime Energy said. 

Malampaya supplies natural gas to four power plants in Batangas — Santa Rita, San Lorenzo, San Gabriel, and Avion, which account for about 20 percent of Luzon’s electricity requirements, Prime Energy said.

Luzon, Visayas grid on yellow alert on Wednesday

Luzon grid on red alert on Tuesday afternoon

“When needed by the grid, Malampaya was able to reliably deliver even more than export capacity. Malampaya was able to deliver on-demand because all producing wells were available and there was sufficient reserve in the gas export pipeline,” explained Donnabel Kuizon Cruz, Managing Director and General Manager of Prime Energy.

The company said it is set to drill two Deepwater development wells in the Camago and Malampaya East fields, as well as a third exploration well, Bagong Pagasa, approximately 15 kilometers north of Malampaya.

“Malampaya is playing absolutely a critical role in ensuring avoiding volatility, stability of gas prices, energy security,” Guillaume Lucci, Prime Infra President and CEO, earlier said during a television interview.