Integrated energy company Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SMPC) posted a 41-percent drop in second-quarter earnings to slightly over P6.0 billion from P10.2 billion the previous year, as coal and electricity prices continued to subside from historic levels.
“Despite our efforts to manage costs and improve operational efficiencies, the persistent decline in global coal and electricity prices has significantly impacted our financial performance,” SMPC president and COO Maria Cristina C. Gotianun said.
From April to June, the Newcastle Index (NEWC) and Indonesian Coal Index 4 (ICI4) both declined by 16 percent. Average NEWC fell from US$160.7 to US$135.6, while ICI4 dropped from USD65.1 to USD55.0.
Overall average selling price (ASP) of electricity decreased by 10 percent, from P6.22/kWh to P5.58/kWh, due to lower spot market prices and fuel costs for baseload plants.
Quarter-over-quarter, SMPC net income contracted by 8 percent from P6.5 billion owing to lower coal and electricity sales volume and average selling prices.
From January to June, the company’s earnings dropped by 34 percent from P19.2 billion to P12.6 billion due to the combined effect of weaker selling prices, higher total coal production costs and increased coal and electricity sales volume.
“The second half of the year should be more of the same for us in terms of coal prices. We also expect coal production, electricity demand and spot prices to taper because of the rainy season,” Gotianun added.
For the second quarter alone, total shipments rose 2 percent from 4.5 million metric tons (MMT) to 4.6 MMT on stronger domestic demand.
Domestic shipments accelerated by 16 percent, from 1.9 MMT to 2.2 MMT, primarily driven by higher sales to subsidiaries SEM-Calaca Power Corporation (SCPC) and Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corporation (SLPGC).
During the same period, Semirara coal ASP slumped by 33 percent, from P4,151 per metric ton (MT) to P2,780 per MT. The reduction was due to stabilizing coal indices and an increased demand for non-commercial grade coal, which is sold at a lower price.
Total production surged by 73 percent, from 3.0 MMT to 5.2 MMT, primarily due to lower rainfall levels and the near depletion of Molave mine last year, which created a low base effect.
Overall plant availability slightly improved from 80 percent to 81 percent, as fewer SLPGC outage days offset the 77-day planned maintenance outage of SCPC Unit 2.
Total average capacity during running days increased by 17 percent, from 685 MW to 801 MW, due to the restoration of SCPC Unit 2’s dependable capacity to 300 MW on May 27, along with reduced deration in SLPGC plants.
Total gross generation improved by 12 percent, from 1,212 GWh to 1,352 GWh, driven by higher SLPGC plant availability and average capacity, along with the restored capacity of SCPC Unit 2.
Higher gross generation led to a 12-percent increase in total power sales, rising from 1,097 GWh to 1,228 GWh. Majority or 59 percent of the generated electricity was sold to the spot market, with the remainder sold through bilateral contract quantities (BCQ).
Spot market ASP fell 12 percent from P7.11/kWh to P6.25/kWh, while BCQ ASP increased 2 percent, from P4.52/kWh to P4.62/kWh.
At the end of the second quarter, only 33 percent of the 840MW dependable capacity of SCPC and SLPGC were contracted.
Net of station service, which varies from time to time, SMPC has 481.6MW available for sale to the spot market.
