Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday announced the discovery of a new natural gas reservoir near the Malampaya gas field in the South China Sea, which he said could help prevent a potential energy shortfall.
The offshore deposit, called Malampaya East 1, was found by a Philippine consortium about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) east of the existing Malampaya field. The reservoir, located northwest of Palawan province, is estimated to contain 98 billion cubic feet (2.7 billion cubic meters) of gas.
Marcos said initial tests indicated the well could yield up to 60 million cubic feet (1.6 million cubic meters) of gas per day, though he did not provide a timeline for commercial production. The find also includes condensate, a high-value liquid fuel.
“This helps Malampaya’s contribution and strengthens our domestic gas supply for many years to come,” Marcos said in a statement.
Malampaya began commercial production more than 20 years ago and has supplied over 20% of the electricity in Luzon, the country’s most populous island and home to the capital, Manila. In 2023, Marcos extended the field’s contract by 15 years amid concerns it could soon be depleted.
The new deposit lies within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, a 200-nautical-mile area where it holds rights under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Efforts to explore other offshore areas, including Reed Bank, have been halted due to opposition from China, which claims much of the South China Sea. Similar objections have been raised by China against Vietnam’s exploration activities in the region.
Besides the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also have claims in the disputed waters, where China has stepped up its coast guard and naval presence in recent years.
