The Department of Energy (DoE) announced it will push through with the auction for the Semirara Island coal mine, even after the incumbent concession holder sought court protection from sharing proprietary data, BusinessWorld reported.
Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC), which holds the current coal operating contract for the site, has asked the courts to prevent the DoE from forcing it to disclose its detailed mine plans and other commercial data, arguing the information constitutes trade secrets. The DoE, however, maintains that the data is necessary for a fair and transparent auction process.
Energy officials said they will release further details on the auction within the month, including the evaluation mechanism and timeline. The Semirara coal mine is one of the country's largest coal producers, and the government's push to open it to new bidders aligns with efforts to ensure competitive pricing and energy security.