Energy & Mining
Middle East conflicts force another weekly spike in local fuel prices
Filipino motorists face yet another round of pump price increases this coming Tuesday, underscoring the ongoing volatility of domestic fuel costs driven by compounding international crises. According to Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas, gasoline prices are projected to rise between P1 and P1.50 per liter, while diesel prices could jump by P1.75 to P2.25 per liter. This upcoming price hike follows the previous week’s substantial surge of P2.49 per liter for gasoline, P3.84 for diesel, and P5.01 for kerosene, highlighting how rapidly fuel rates are creeping higher almost every single week.
PNB Holdings, First Gen expand ties with 5MW renewable energy supply deal
PNB Holdings Corporation (PHC), the real estate arm of Philippine National Bank, has signed a deal with First Gen Group, the country’s leading renewable energy firm, for the direct supply of over 5 megawatts (MW) of clean power to two of its flagship properties, deepening ties between the Lucio Tan Group and the energy company.
Marcos EO 122 sets unified critical minerals policy, links mining growth to shared national progress
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has issued Executive Order No. 122, establishing for the first time a single national policy framework to develop the country’s critical minerals sector—an action designed to position the country as a key player in the global clean-energy and technology supply chain while delivering broad economic and social benefits for Filipinos. Signed August 21, the order also restructures the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) to drive coordinated, strategic growth across the industry.
Vivant’s COREnergy to supply 0.6MW power to Cebu’s JEG Tower under 2-year fixed-rate deal
COREnergy, the energy retail subsidiary of listed firm Vivant Corp., has secured a contract to supply 0.6 megawatts of electricity to JEG Tower in Cebu City, marking a key expansion of its commercial client base and advancing its parent group’s broader energy investment and growth targets.
Low conviction rate in power theft cases fuels reform push; DOE proposes phased removal of non-technical systems loss charges
Only 21 out of 548 electricity pilferage cases recorded since 2022 have resulted in convictions, data presented at the Senate Committee on Energy hearing on August 18 showed, revealing severe enforcement gaps under Republic Act 7832 or the Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994.
