Malampaya Gas Returns to Ilijan Power Plant

The Ilijan Power Plant in Batangas has resumed using indigenous Malampaya gas, restoring a key link in the country's gas-to-power infrastructure. The ceremonial admission of Malampaya gas into the plant took place on September 24, led by Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin and representatives from Prime Energy, LNGPH, and PNOC-EC.

The return of indigenous gas to Ilijan was made possible through a collaborative effort between Prime Energy and South Premiere Power Corp. (SPPC) to restore the Tabangao-Ilijan Pipeline. The companies worked together to ensure that the infrastructure was restored and brought back into service with safety as a priority.

The use of indigenous Malampaya gas at Ilijan is expected to contribute about 36 centavos per kilowatt-hour in lower generation charges, providing potential relief to electricity consumers. Over the past decade, indigenous gas has maintained a price advantage over imported spot LNG, with the difference reaching more than $4 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) at various points.