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The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved Mariveles Power Generation Corp.’s application to build and operate a ₱1.87-billion transmission line linking its 1,200-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Bataan to the Luzon Grid.
The ERC said the San Miguel Global Power affiliate may proceed with constructing a dedicated point-to-point facility connecting the plant directly to the 500-kilovolt Alas-asin substation of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines. The coal project is being developed in phases and is expected to be fully operational by 2029.
The Department of Energy (DOE) recently clarified that certain coal projects, including those already under development before the 2020 moratorium, may still proceed. The DOE said exemptions may also cover off-grid power projects, own-use facilities for mining critical minerals, and industrial parks with self-sustaining power needs, subject to specific endorsements.
However, the DOE stressed that new on-grid coal capacity will only be permitted under exceptional circumstances such as a declared power crisis or imminent electricity shortage. Projects with existing exemptions must commit to firm delivery schedules and transition plans toward clean energy by 2060 or earlier.
As of end-July 2025, DOE data show the country’s installed grid-connected capacity at 31,701 MW, with coal plants accounting for 41 percent or 13,006 MW.
