Energy & Mining

Alternergy Holdings Corp. has started generating electricity from its 64-megawatt Alabat Wind Farm in Quezon Province, bringing the project closer to commercial operations and giving the renewable energy developer an early revenue stream ahead of full commissioning.

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has warned MERALCO PowerGen Corp. (MGen) and Pilipinas Enterprise Management Holdings Inc. (PEMHI) that paying a P5.8-million penalty does not close the book on their merger compliance, with repeat violations potentially drawing heavier fines or even nullification of their conditional clearance.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is exploring a special Green Energy Auction (GEA) round tailored to boost the country’s resilience against the severe effects of El Niño, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin confirmed on Monday. The proposed initiative would prioritize floating solar installations, which can also help reduce water loss from critical dams and reservoirs during periods of intense heat and drought.

Motorists, small businesses and households are bracing for a fifth consecutive week of split fuel price changes, with local fuel players projecting higher gasoline costs but cheaper diesel for the coming week. Leo Bellas, president of Jetti Petroleum, said Sunday that gasoline is seen rising by P2.00‑P2.20 per liter, while diesel may drop by P0.80‑P1.00 per liter. These estimated adjustments take into account the previous week’s Mean of Platts Singapore rates and average peso‑dollar exchange movements.

A Japanese power utility is sizing up a new Philippine market, and it is starting with something factories cannot do without: electricity.