As the Malampaya natural gas field is expected to run out in 2024, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is prodding the Duterte administration’s energy officials to start looking for alternative sources within Philippine territory.
“The only way we can find new sources of natural gas is for us to explore,” Gatchalian told Senate reporters on Monday.
He, however, foresees “encountering problems” tapping potential energy sources in the vicinity of Malampaya in the West Philippine Sea. “Dito tayo nagkakaroon ng problema sa West Philippine Sea dahil ang Malampaya, kaunting hakbang lang ay West Philippine Sea na at hindi tayo maka-explore sa sarili nating exclusive economic zone.”
This even as Sen. Gatchalian affirmed alternative gas field can be tapped in nearby areas in the WPS. “Definitely. 100% there is natural gas in the West Philippine Sea because it has been proven that the reserve is there. We just cannot explore right now because there is conflict in West Philippine Sea.”
But the Senator projected, for instance, that “if we discover (another gas field) in the West Philippine Sea this year, it will take an additional 5-7 years to produce; but the beauty of it is that it is ours, we no longer need to import, we no longer need to buy from other countries, it is ours.”
Gatchalian conceded there will be a considerable gap during which the country would need to import to ensure adequate power supply at much lower cost. (“Dapat mag-import tayo dahil sa presyo ngayon ay mababa, mas mura ang lalabas na magiging presyo ng ating kuryente, mas mababa pa rin, lumalabas almost 4.30 pesos pag imported natural gas.”)
He noted that during the Energy Committee hearing, the Senate panel was informed it would be still be much cheaper to import natural gas than coal which is why Gatchalian said government should pursue development of natural gas supply to bring down the cost of electricity.