Energy, mining titans spotted at DOE coal auction

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February 28, 2026 | 12:00am

Notes on the beat

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) officially opened the country’s coal auction yesterday. And as expected, familiar industry giants were in attendance, along with low-profile players quietly stepping in to see what’s on the table.

Under the bid round, the DOE is offering three pre-determined areas (PDA) comprising 18 coal blocks across three locations, spanning a total of 18,000 hectares.

These include three blocks in Amulung and Iguig, Cagayan, previously operated by D.M. Wenceslao & Associates Inc., and five blocks in Benito Soliven, Naguilian and Cauayan, Isabela, formerly managed by PNOC Exploration Corp.

 Taking center stage, however, are the 10 coal blocks on Semirara Island in Antique, a site long operated by the Consunji Group’s Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) and widely seen as the crown jewel of the auction.

The STAR has learned that representatives from SMPC were spotted at the auction launch, hardly surprising given the company’s clear intent to maintain its foothold on Semirara Island.

 Among those in attendance were companies under the Meralco Group, whose chairman, tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan, had earlier signaled desire to participate in the bidding. 

Leading the MVP Group contingent were Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN) and its subsidiaries Cebu Energy Development Corp. and MThermal-Global Business Power.

As one of the country’s leading generation companies, MGEN operates a large portfolio of coal-fired power assets. It is also behind the planned 1,200-megawatt ultra-supercritical coal plant in Atimonan, Quezon.

Also joining the auction’s Day 1 was Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC), the Zamora family’s listed natural resources development company.

NAC is the Philippines’ largest nickel producer, with a portfolio that includes seven operating nickel mines.

But the roster did not end there, as a handful of low-profile players also made their presence felt, including Trans Pacific Energy Resources Inc., AVGVSTVS Enterprise and Filsystems Inc.

On the government side, representatives from PNOC Exploration likewise joined the launch.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin earlier said she had reminded DOE’s attached agencies like PNOC to step aside for now and allow private companies to take the lead in the auction. 

During the launch, Energy Undersecretary Alessandro Sales said bidders “must demonstrate sound technical capability, strong financial capacity and a credible plan that puts safety, environmental protection, community development and progressive rehabilitation at the center of operations.” 

“This is how we uphold responsible resource development while we continue to strengthen energy security and accelerate the long-term transition of the power sector,” Sales said.

 This year’s coal auction appears to be generating strong anticipation, given the substantial resources at stake.

 For the Semirara blocks alone, estimated coal reserves stand at about 160 million metric tons (MT), according to DOE data.

 The Cagayan and Isabela blocks, meanwhile, are estimated to hold a total of 47.5 million MT of coal reserves.

 Based on the auction’s timeline, a pre-submission conference will be held on March 19, while application documents must be submitted by April 28, when they will also be opened.

 The notice of qualification to enter into a coal operating contract with the government is targeted for issuance on May 27. 

While it is too early to tell which companies will move forward in the auction, the level of anticipation surrounding it continues to build.

 More importantly, this bid round marks a crucial step toward a stronger and more resilient energy future for the country.