Consunji-led Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) said it expects to secure within the second of this year the clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for its coal mine expansion project in Antique.
"We expect to receive the ECC (environmental compliance certificate) for the Acacia mine from the DENR within the second half of 2025," SMPC president, chief operating officer and chief sustainability officer Maria Cristina Gotianun said during the company's virtual annual stockholders meeting on Monday.
Data from the SMPC showed that Acacia holds around 80 million metric tons (MMT) of coal reserves.
"Exploration and pre-stripping activities are currently underway, with production targeted to begin within 2026," Gotianun said.
The opening of the Acacia mine is part of the company's PHP291-billion coal mine expansion project in Antique.
The company earlier disclosed that the amount would be used to expand its existing Molave and Narra pits and the operations of Acacia.
SMPC, the largest coal producer, earlier reported a net income of PHP4.4 billion for the first quarter of 2025.
Total coal production rose by 16 percent from 4.9 million metric tons (MMT) to 5.7 MMT, driven by improved access to seams in the Narra mine, following continuous pre-stripping activities in 2024. By Anna Leah Gonzales
Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency
