Philippine oil and gas drillers tumbled Wednesday after the top court voided the nation’s 2005 deal with China and Vietnam to jointly explore for oil and gas in the South China Sea, less than a week after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed to revive similar talks with Beijing.
Philippine billionaire Enrique Razon will acquire a controlling stake in businessman Dennis Uy’s Malampaya gas project, in a move that may help extend the life of a field that fuels some of the nation’s biggest power plants. Significantly, Shell is also in the process of trying to divest its share of Malampaya.
Philippine tycoon Dennis Uy's Udenna conglomerate struck a deal worth up to $460 million to buy a gas exploration and development company from Shell last week. The deal, which attracted a premium valuation and boosts Udenna’s share in the Malampaya gas field to 90%, is positive for both the Philippines and Shell.
Philippine business tycoons are eager to buy Shell’s stake in the deep-water Malampaya project. However, any potential suitors for the 45% interest, valued at between $250 million and $300 million by analysts at Rystad Energy, will need to bring strong technical skills to eek more gas out of the aging field.
Law makers in the Philippines are seeking to refocus the Philippine National Oil Company’s (PNOC’s) investment mandate towards exploration and production ventures. The move is part of an effort to revive the Southeast Asian nation’s ailing upstream sector and attract new investment as its energy security situation continues to deteriorate.