Philippine gas unit sets 1-week shutdown in July

The Malampaya plant, which supplies fuel to three major power stations, will be temporarily shut in July for regular maintainance work.

The seven-day shutdown is unlikely to cause massive power interruptions, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said.

Malampaya gas is used to run the 1,000-megawatt Santa Rita and 500-MW San Lorenzo power plants of First Gen Corp , and the 1,200-MW Ilijan power plant operated by the power unit of conglomerate San Miguel Corp.

The three plants account for 40-45 percent of the power requirements of Luzon island, including the country's capital, Manila. Luzon's power needs reprement about two-thirds of the country's total requirements.

Almendras explained that the three power plants can also run on alternate fuels such as oil.

First Gen has back-up fuel to keep its Santa Rita and San Lorenzo plants running while supply from Malampaya is temporarily cut from July 13, said company executive vice president Ernesto Pantangco.

Pantangco said Ilijan will also have extra fuel supply to use during the Malampaya shutdown.

"We don't think it's going to be a problem of meeting the reliable power supply situation," Pantangco said.

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