DOE to auction 20 coal exploration contracts

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) plans to put on the auction block this year at least 20 coal exploration areas around the country.

Energy Undersecretary Ramon Oca told reporters that the DOE is currently putting the final touches to the guidelines on the bidding process for the coal operating contracts (COCs).

“We’re preparing for the contracting round. We’re starting with coal. Immediately after the guidelines are served, we will publish it and that takes 15 days so the actual launch would be March,” Oca said.

Aside from the coal contracts, Oca said they also expect to hold another set of bidding rounds for oil and gas exploration contracts.

He said they are optimistic they would also be able to bid out geothermal contracts within the next few months.

“Our target is to bid out coal, oil and gas and geothermal by the first half,” Oca said.

The DOE offered 14 areas for exploration, development and production of the country’s coal resources in 2006.

Included in the areas that were put on the auction block were Quezon, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental and Zamboanga Sibugay.

It was only last year that the DOE awarded four COCs.

Those that bagged the coal contracts were IL Rey’c Coal Mining and Exploration Corp. in Danao City, Cebu (COC 149), Guidance Management Corp. for coal areas in Negros Oriental (COC 150 and 151) and COC 152 to PNOC-Exploration Corp. and Agusan Petroleum and Mining Corp. for Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay.                               – Donnabelle Gatdula