The energy landscape in the Philippines is undergoing significant transformation, driven by a combination of local and global factors.
As the country seeks to diversify its energy sources and reduce dependence on imported fuels, this evolution presents both opportunities and challenges.
Yet, local players like Prime Energy are emerging as vital contributors to this shift.
“At the peak, we supplied 40% of the natural gas used by gas-fired power plants in Luzon,” says Donnabel “Donna” Kuizon Cruz, President and CEO of Prime Energy.
Donna brings over two decades of experience in the oil and gas industry to her role and she is well placed to steer the company as it enters its new phase of gas exploration to help the country grow into a position to push for sustainability.
The evolution of Prime Energy
The journey began when a subsidiary of Shell, formerly known as Shell Philippines Exploration B.V., divested its shares to Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. (Prime Infra) back in November 2022
Prime Energy Resources Development B.V. (Prime Energy), was established as a subsidiary of Prime Infra, as a natural gas exploration and development company.
This shift posed unique challenges, particularly in maintaining operational efficiency without the support systems previously provided by a global company.
“The shift to becoming a fully local company empowered Prime Energy to operate independently, building on the strengths we had already developed throughout the years,” says Donna.
Leading the way
Having begun her career as a technologist in refining and gradually ascended through various roles, including strategic planning and operations support in upstream oil and gas sectors, Donna is equipped with a deep understanding of the industry.
This enables her to make informed decisions at every level, something that has proved crucial as Prime Energy navigates its next strategic push and external challenges.
Yet, as the company races to find new sources of indigenous gas through ambitious projects and an embrace of innovation and technology, Prime Energy has been able to position itself in a way that makes it competitive.
“The only gas producer in the Philippines is us,” says Donna. “We were fortunate enough to have acquired this as part of the Shell group of companies; It's one of the best in the world in terms of operational excellence.”
Prime Energy operates a 504-kilometre gas subsea pipeline that strikes right in the middle of the nerve centre of gas-fired power in the Philippines.
Malampaya supplies natural gas to four natural gas-fired power plants in Batangas City.
“Our infrastructure is connected to this nerve centre and could also be the tie-in point for future discoveries of offshore gas in the Philippines,” Donna explains.
Partners powering the push
Partnerships play a pivotal role in the success of Prime Energy’s indigenous gas exploration and development.
Maintaining relationships with former colleagues and technical experts has been essential for Donna and her team.
“We are basically working with the same team that was in Shell before we split off,” she says. “These connections provide valuable support in optimising operations while ensuring that the company adheres to high standards of safety and efficiency,” she says.
Yet it is not just about drawing from the past. A critical component of Prime Energy's strategy involves forging new strategic partnerships that enhance its operational capabilities.
One notable collaboration is with SLB (formerly Schlumberger), a global leader in technology and services for oil and gas operations.
This partnership allows Prime Energy to leverage SLB's advanced technologies in subsurface engineering and data analytics, which are crucial for optimising exploration and production processes.
This has delivered to Prime Energy subsea equipment for an offshore gas field, something that is in its immediate area of focus.
OneSubsea, a joint venture backed by SLB, will provide wellheads, Christmas trees (control equipment) and a subsea production system for the Malampaya Phase 4 project to drill and tie in two new deepwater wells in the Camago and Malampaya East fields to the shallow water platform.
“Exploration and development of a late-life gas field like Malampaya requires extraordinary feats of engineering, which we are committed to deliver safely,” says Donna.
The collaboration with SLB goes beyond technology transfer; it also encompasses knowledge sharing that empowers Prime Energy’s engineers and technical teams.
By working closely with SLB experts, Prime Energy's personnel gain exposure to best practices from around the world, fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the organisation.
"We maintain our network of support to safeguard what we do best while also making new relationships with other international companies," Donna explains.
Strategies for the future
Donna outlines three main areas of focus for Prime Energy: stabilising operations extending infrastructure life, and preparing for expansion.
"We started with 80 staff last year; we're now at 275 staff as of April 2025," she explains, indicating efforts to rebuild teams essential for executing drilling campaigns and enhancing operational capabilities.
The company has seen improvements in production reliability, rising from 96% at the end of last year to 98% currently — a significant achievement reflecting enhanced efficiency.
Equally, the team now includes a subsurface team. “We have a team of geologists looking at other sources for indigenous gas and oil both in the country and outside of the Philippines,” Donna says. “We also have a dedicated wells team and subsea engineering team to execute our projects. Finally, we are currently building up a business development and commercial team that is looking at potential acquisitions and other new businesses, outside of our conventional oil and gas upstream work.”
Prime Energy continues to solidify its position in the Philippine energy landscape; its current goals revolve around extending the life of its existing assets while exploring new revenue opportunities.
Donna emphasises the need for strategic drilling campaigns aimed at discovering new gas reserves. "To extend our life, we have to drill for new gas," she states, underscoring the urgency of these initiatives.
A future fuelling the Philippines
Prime Energy is poised for significant growth as it navigates the complexities of being an independent operator in a competitive market.
By leveraging its strengths, such as local operational capabilities and strong safety protocols, while embracing new partnerships and strategies, Prime Energy aims not only to survive but thrive in the evolving energy landscape as a contractor to the government.
As it transitions into this new era, the commitment to fostering a resilient organisational culture will be crucial.
"We have an excellent team. We are world-class," she affirms, reflecting her confidence in both her team and the future of Prime Energy.
With strategic foresight and a focus on innovation, Prime Energy is well positioned to redefine its role within the Philippine energy sector while contributing to broader global energy transitions.
