DOE sets final consultation on Semirara coal mine bid

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June 15, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The pre-bid process for the highly anticipated Semirara coal auction is entering its final stretch this month, with the Department of Energy set to hold the last round of talks with prospective bidders.

DOE Secretary Sharon Garin said the consultation will not only finalize the auction’s terms of reference (TOR) but also determine which bidders are truly interested in moving forward.

“It is scheduled within June. Then after 60 days, the bid submissions will be made,” Garin said, noting that the auction proper may finally resume around August.

The submission of bids for the Consunji Group’s flagship coal asset on Semirara Island in Antique was originally set for April 28.

However, the DOE, as first reported by The STAR, postponed the auction “until further notice” to address major concerns raised by prospective bidders.

Garin said there will be minimal changes on the TOR to “simplify” and make it “more objective,” although she did not provide details.

The DOE, she noted, is taking into account that the Semirara coal blocks are a brownfield project while ensuring that the new contract remains in the government’s best interest.

While financial and legal aspects are being considered, Garin emphasized that qualification will be “heavy” on the technical side.

“Because that’s really what’s needed. They must know what they are doing. That’s what we are still trying to determine – what the technical qualifications are.”

The Semirara coal contract grants the exclusive right to explore, develop and operate on Semirara Island, the country’s largest coal mining site.

Current operator Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) of tycoon Isidro Consunji is now scrambling to secure a new government deal, as its existing contract is set to expire in July 2027.

If it fails to win a new contract, SMPC risks losing a core asset long synonymous with the Consunji Group. The new contract will have a term of 25 years, Garin said.

The DOE has yet to pin down the remaining mine life of the Semirara project, though industry estimates suggest it could be less than 10 years.