Philippines Finds Major Natural Gas Reserve Near Malampaya

In a major boost to the Philippines’ energy security, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday announced the discovery of natural gas at Malampaya East-1 (MAE-1), located about 6 kilometres east of the existing Malampaya gas field off the coast of Palawan.

According to local media reports, this is the country’s first major natural gas discovery in more than 10 years.

The newly discovered well is estimated to hold around 98 billion cubic feet of natural gas, which could generate up to 14 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity every year. This amount of energy is enough to power approximately 5.7 million households or 200,000 schools annually.

The discovery is part of an $893 million drilling campaign led by Prime Energy, a company owned by Filipino businessman Enrique Razon. Initial testing at the site showed gas flows of around 60 million cubic feet per day, indicating strong production potential.

MAE-1 is expected to extend the operational life of the Malampaya gas field, which currently supplies 35 to 40 per cent of Luzon’s electricity needs. The new find will also help the country reduce its dependence on imported coal, supporting a cleaner and more reliable energy mix.

The drilling site is located in the West Philippine Sea, an area of strategic importance to the country’s energy development plans.