Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin on Tuesday said ongoing deep-sea drilling operations near the Malampaya gas field are part of the Marcos administration’s efforts in securing the country’s energy supply for the next decade.

In a press briefing, Garin said that the Noble Viking drillship began operating a few weeks ago, poking at three new wells: Camago, Malampaya East and Bagong Pag-asa.

“They are drilling now. Within the year, we will know if there is gas or not, especially the two — Camago and Malampaya East. And the other one, Bagong Pag-asa well, we’re hoping, and I think we are quite optimistic about it,” she said.

With the Philippines having indigenous energy sources, the country will be able to mitigate the impact of fluctuating fuel prices due to conflict in oil-producing countries, according to Garin.

“Even if there is war in any part of the world, we will be safe. We can protect it because it is ours, and the prices we can maintain and the supply we can maintain,” Garin said.

If the drilling succeeds, the new wells will be able to produce oil to power electricity by late 2026.

“By late next year, we will have electricity from the new wells already,” Garin said.

Phase 4 project late

The energy chief lamented that the Phase 4 project was late as it took a long time for the original Malampaya contract to develop.

She recalled that the original contract was awarded in 1989, and it took 10 years before it was operated in 2001. Energy exploration efforts also declined from the 1980s until the present, coming from 158 contracts under the Marcos Sr. administration to just six in the Duterte administration.

“I think this is commendable in a sense that the extension was done now and it will extend Malampaya for another 10 years. If it wasn’t done now, we would run out of gas,” Garin said.

Three contracts, eight pending

Currently, there are three contracts for energy exploration with eight more pending.

“The first two are the hydrogen contracts — first in the world; two contracts for BARMM, first time also. So, that’s eight in total. And that’s what the government needs to do, and our President has recognized that if we want energy security, where we get our power, then we need more drilling. So, hopefully, Malampaya will be more successful,” she said.