DOE sets deadline for coal operating contracts on May 27

The government has set the deadline for the application for the bidding of pre-determined areas (PDAs) for coal operating contracts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) next week.

Based on a joint advisory of the Department of Energy (DOE) and BARMM Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE), the deadline has been set at 11 a.m. on May 27.

The DOE and BARMM’s MENRE will set up a one-stop shop for the processing of payment and receipt of application documents.

Interested bidders will need to pay a non-refundable application fee of P100,000 payable to the DOE and another P100,000 payable to the BARMM MENRE.

Last February, the DOE said one PDA for coal exploration in BARMM is in Kapai and Tagoloan, Lanao del Sur covering a total area of 14,856 hectares.

DOE will select applicants which can demonstrate a good understanding of the possible resource potential of these areas and will carry out a work program that will efficiently map and test them.

Applicants must have experience in exploration and field development in similar areas and must possess the necessary risk capital and financial capability to explore and develop.

Apart from coal PDAs, the DOE and BARMM-MENRE are eyeing to secure investors for the development of petroleum PDAs in the region.

The DOE is also in search of investors for two PDAs located in Northwest Palawan and Southern Cebu for the development and production of petroleum as well as two other PDAs for native hydrogen exploration adjacent to the northern portion of the Zambales Ophiolite Complex and the western portion of Central Luzon.

The DOE said around 50 local and international oil and gas exploration and production companies have shown interest in participating in the biddings, including players from Asia, North America and Europe as well as local players.

These companies include Baseline Unlimited Inc.; PhiloDrill Corp.; Helios Aragon PTE Ltd.; V1 Countrywide Realty Corp.; Asia Axis Inc.; PXP Energy Corp.; Western Sulu Gulf Oil Corp.; Energy China Phils Branch Office; ExxonMobil; Prime Energy Minsupala Energy and Mineral Resource Development Corp.; Oriental Petroleum and Minerals Corp.; Freedom Renewable Energy Corp.; and Triangle Energy.