The Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-power Project has posted an all-time high gas production at 155.495 billion standard cubic feet (scf) in 2019, based on data from the Department of Energy (DOE).

This was the offshore facility’s largest output since beginning commercial operations in 2001, also surpassing its 150.804 billion scf production in 2018.

In its nearly two decades of operation, Malampaya has produced over 2.32 trillion scf, most of which were used as fuel for the country’s gas-fired power projects, according to the DOE.

Of the 2.32 trillion scf, 2.195 trillion had been utilized by the power sector, while 40.348 billion had been sold to other end-users, including industries and the transport sector, according to DOE data.

For 2020, the DOE reported that Malampaya’s gas production reached 73.388 billion scf as of August, of which 93% or 68.629 billion scf had been used to generate electricity.

Natural gas from Malampaya, the only commercially-producing gas field in the country, is expected to be depleted in the next few years.

Shell has recently disclosed plans of selling its 45% stake in Malampaya, to which the Udenna Group of Dennis Uy, the MVP Group of Manny Pangilinan, and San Miguel Corporation of Ramon Ang have expressed their interest to buy it. Udenna already owns the other 45% following its purchase from Chevron. The government owns the remaining ten percent.