MANILA -- The Department of Energy (DOE) on Friday clarified the scope of its coal moratorium policy after some groups filed a graft complaint against Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla. 

Power4People, Sanlakas, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino and several other groups allege that Lotilla allowed Aboitiz-owned Therma Visayas Inc. (TVI) to expand a coal-fired power plant in Toledo City, Cebu despite the coal moratorium issued by the DOE during the time of Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

Lotilla sinampahan ng reklamo sa pag-endorso ng coal-fired power plant

In a statement, the DOE said the Coal Moratorium Policy issued in December 2020 isn't a total ban on coal projects.

The DOE said the Policy does not cover the following:

-existing and operational coal-fired power generation facilities;
-any coal-fired power projects considered committed power projects;
-existing power plant complexes that already have firm expansion plans and existing land site provisions;
-indicative power projects with substantial accomplishments, particularly with signed and notarized land acquisition or lease agreements for the projects, and with approved permits or resolutions from local government units and the Regional Development Council where the power plants will be located. 

The DOE noted that these parameters were explicitly provided under Item 2 of the Coal Moratorium Policy.

"Following a thorough review and verification by the Power Bureau, the DOE issues at the request of a project proponent a certification that a project is not covered by the moratorium," the agency explained.

"Several proponents of coal-fired power projects have requested the DOE’s confirmation on non-coverage and these were ministerially issued after verification," it added. 

The DOE's Electric Power Industry Management Bureau said allegations of arbitrariness in the issuance of certifications are unfounded.