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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider Atimonan coal plant faces stiff re-approval hurdles

Atimonan coal plant faces stiff re-approval hurdles

Published Jul 10, 2025 01:12 pm
The Department of Energy (DOE) stated that the Atimonan coal plant project faces significant hurdles in securing re-approval under the coal moratorium exemption.
In a briefing, Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin explained that the coal project‘s re-evaluation must meet regulatory requirements, including a review of its impact on market competition.
“We have already sent Meralco our response, and I don't know if that should be disclosed. But we sent them the stance of the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC),” Garin told reporters. “There are observations made by the PCC, so they need to comply with the recommendations.”
Earlier this year, the DOE recalled its previous approval of Meralco PowerGen Corp.'s (MGen) 1,200-megawatt (MW) Atimonan coal-fired power plant for further review.
The project, located in Quezon Province, had initially been granted an exemption from the coal moratorium, which would have allowed Manila Electric Company's (Meralco) power generation arm to proceed.
The DOE implemented the coal moratorium to limit new coal power projects and promote renewable energy (RE) sources in the generation mix.
If the project is reinstated, MGen would proceed with its facility operations. The DOE previously clarified that projects already operating or committed prior to the moratorium's start could be exempted with proper certification.
MGen President Emmanuel Rubio earlier stated that approval would enable the company to deliver power from the coal plant by late 2029 or early 2030.
He also mentioned plans to discontinue its coal operations by 2050 to explore alternative energy sources like ammonia co-firing.

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Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Secretary Sharon Garin Atimonan coal plant
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