Semirara’s coal output reach 7.19m tons

Manila Standard Today
by Alena Mae S. Flores


Semirara Mining Corp., the country’s biggest coal producer, said output in 2011 reached about 7.19 million metric tons, approximately matching the level in the previous year.


Semirara’s production in Semirara Island, Antique accounted for 94 percent of the country’s total output of 7.611 million metric tons, according to data from the Energy Department.


The Philippines also produces coal from Zamboanga Sibugay (168,951 MT), Cebu (85,063 MT), Batan Island, Albay (18,395 MT), Surigao (26,980 MT), Negros Occidental (2,060 MT) and small scale coal mines (119,521 MT).


The Philippines, meanwhile, imported 10.894 million MT of coal from Indonesia and 68,169 MT from Vietnam.


Semirara exported 2.68 million MT last year, mostly to China at 2.68 million MT and Thailand at 54,754 MT.


The power industry consumed bulk of the country’s coal requirements of 14.23 million MT in 2011, or 10.58 million MT, while by the cement industry used 3.1 million MT.


Energy Undersecretary Jay Layug earlier said government was promoting the development of coal areas amid a potential of up to 2.4 billion MT against actual production of just around 7.3 million MT a year.


The government in Decemnber offered 30 coal areas to investors for exploration, production and development.