Semirara Mining and Power Corp. is calling on the Department of Energy to ensure fair process in updated bidding rules for pre-identified coal areas, stressing bidders must be pre-qualified on technical skill, experience, and financial strength. Awarding contracts solely to the highest bidder risks picking parties with no mining track record, which could lead to zero output and no government royalties, the company warned. It noted Semirara mine’s complex, below-sea-level operations demand safeguards for continuity and the livelihoods of thousands in host communities.
Earlier this month, DOE suspended the 2026 Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program coal bidding covering sites in Antique, Cagayan, and Isabela to craft a clearer, fairer evaluation framework. Revised rules are still pending; Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said these will incorporate stakeholder feedback and may involve the environment department. SMPC’s operating contract expires July 14, 2027. Uncertainty over the bidding led the firm in August to cut its 2026 production target by over a third and file for redundancies affecting 462 staff. SMPC produced 19.9 million metric tons of coal in 2025, and supplies 93.7 percent of the country’s total local output—Philippine coal demand stood at 46.67 million MT in 2024, mostly met by imports.
