FUELING THE FUTURE. Prime Energy, operator of Service Contract No. 38, marks a historic milestone for Philippine energy security with the successful drilling of the Malampaya East-1 reservoir. The new find, announced by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, confirms 98 billion cubic feet of natural gas—ending a decade-long discovery drought. Photo shows the flaring operation off the coast of Palawan.
Prime Energy, operator of Service Contract No. 38, hailed the discovery of a new natural gas field at Malampaya East-1 as a breakthrough for Philippine energy independence.
The find, announced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is the first natural gas discovery in Philippine territory in over a decade. The new field reinforces Malampaya’s status as the nation’s sole indigenous gas source, boosting the existing field’s remaining recoverable volumes by an estimated 30%.
“This gas discovery is a victory for the Filipino people,” the company said. “When we assumed operatorship, we committed to the President and the nation to breathe new life into Malampaya and revitalize the indigenous natural gas sector. Today, we are delivering on that commitment.”
“We thank President Marcos for his leadership, particularly for approving the extension of SC38 and for the enactment of the Philippine Natural Gas Industry Development Act, which provides the stability and confidence needed to pursue continued exploration of additional gas resources,” Prime Energy added.
Malampaya East-1 is a newly discovered, previously untapped reservoir, confirming the presence of 98 billion cubic feet (BCF) of additional natural gas volume and associated condensate. Initial well data indicates volumes equivalent to around one-third of the remaining producible Malampaya gas volumes.
The discovery was achieved by a fully Filipino-led team, reflecting the country’s growing capability in upstream energy development. Prime Energy operates SC38 together with its partners UC38 LLC, PNOC Exploration Corporation, and Prime Oil and Gas Inc.
The next phase of the Malampaya 4 drilling campaign involves the completion and testing of Camago-3, followed by the drilling of Bagong Pag-asa exploration well.
Malampaya Phase 4 has been certified as a Project of National Significance. Since inception, the Malampaya project has generated more than US$13.9 billion in revenues for the Philippine government, while significantly reducing dependence on imported fuels.
