Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Benise Balaoing

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784282302826photo-collage.png (12).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>File</div>MANILA — Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SMPC) has sought the court&#x27;s protection after the Department of Energy (DOE) repeatedly asked for proprietary information, including a comprehensive list of its assets, relating to a coal plant it operates in Antique.A Manila Bulletin report noted that this comes after the government did not renew Semirara&#x27;s coal mining contract for another 13 years, and instead prepared to auction off 10 coal blocks in the area.In a statement, Semirara said the DOE asked it in four separate letters to submit detailed information on its assets, including geological and technical data, and a detailed list of equipment, including those specially reconfigured to manage an intensified river-strength flow of water into the Acacia mine.In its petition, Semirara said it still owns the assets in the coal mine, and these assets will not be made available for the use of other bidders and should therefore not be considered in their bid submissions. It also noted that the government can only own its assets if SMPC fails to remove them from the production and exploration area within one year after the termination of its contract, which is only happening in July 2027.“Government ownership of these assets is merely future and conditional. The bidding is supposed to choose a winner that has a viable mine plan and knows how to run one to make sure coal production is seamless to protect the country’s baseload electricity generation. It is not about SMPC and how it runs the mine,” Semirara said.Semirara said bidders must conduct their own technical studies instead of relying on information coming from Semirara&#x27;s decades of investments and expertise.This helps ensure that each bidder is evaluated based on its own technical work and proposal, it said.Semirara said its move to go to court is not meant to stop or delay the bidding process but only to get clarity on a legal issue that could harm its legal and financial interests.Semirara said it remains committed to participating in the bid.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/11/3/semirara-9-month-net-income-falls-on-weaker-coal-power-prices-1541" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Semirara 9-month net income falls on weaker coal, power prices</a></div>Semirara Mining and Power is the Philippines&#x27; largest coal producer and the only power generator that mines its own fuel. The mine in Antique is the country&#x27;s largest coal mine.<div> </div>.

Semirara Mining and Power Corporation has sought the court's protection after the Department of Energy (DOE) repeatedly asked for proprietary information, including a comprehensive list of its assets, relating to a coal pit it operates in Antique.

Semirara Mining and Power Corporation has sought the court's protection after the Department of Energy (DOE) repeatedly asked for proprietary information, including a comprehensive list of its assets, relating to a coal pit it operates in Antique.

Semirara seeks court intervention vs DOE's requests for mine info

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Semirara seeks court intervention vs DOE's requests for mine info

Benise Balaoing,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 17, 2026 06:02 PM PHT

Read More:

Semirara Mining

coal plant

Department of Energy

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