DOE: No plan to close coal mines
Published Sep 15, 2025 12:00 am
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Updated Sep 13, 2025 02:57 pm
Energy Assistant Secretary Mylene Capongcol
While the country is working to expand its renewable energy (RE) fleet, the Department of Energy (DOE) clarified that it is not pushing for a complete halt in coal mine operations.
During a panel discussion at the Economic Journalists’ Association of the Philippines (EJAP) energy forum last week, Energy Undersecretary Mylene Capongcol explained that the DOE cannot order a complete stop on coal mining, but it is considering other clean technologies and materials that could be utilized for various energy projects.
“It’s not our mandate to close mining plants. In fact, we appreciate the mining companies because their idle lands are used for RE. We have the biggest floating solar in Cebu from mining. And then we have [in] Masbate, a ground-mounted solar project,” she said.
Last week, DOE Director for energy policy and planning Michael Sinocruz shared that the government is looking into studying the impact of closing down coal mines and plants. However, Capongcol explained that this was taken out of context.
“We’re not really going to close down coal mines in the country… We have what we call green metals: these are used for energy projects like battery, usable energy, [and] electric vehicles (EVs). So [mines are] still important.”
Green metals are minerals—such as copper, nickel, lithium, cobalt, and other rare earth elements—that support the development of RE technologies.
“I think the government’s push is to have those materials [and] minerals to be processed here in the Philippines, so that we can use them instead of exporting them to other countries and import British metals, [which are] more expensive.”
Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin previously said that the agency is also considering potential exceptions to the coal moratorium, as some companies have pitched “own-use” facilities that are designed for internal consumption.
The coal ban was introduced in 2020 to lessen the coal reliance in energy consumption and allow space for RE growth in the generation mix. However, Garin noted that coal is still needed as baseload power.