ACEN eyes stronger 2026 growth despite Mideast risks

Amid mounting risks from the Middle East crisis, Ayala-led ACEN Corp. still expects robust growth this year, aiming to capitalize on the surging interest in renewable energy (RE).

- By BRIX LELIS

ACEN president and CEO Eric Francia said the company’s domestic and international operations remain steady, noting that tensions have had minimal impact on its existing power plants.

“We don’t rely on fuel, and the tariff is fixed,” Francia told reporters on the sidelines of the 2026 Philippine Energy Forum yesterday.

Global markets, particularly those heavily dependent on imported oil, continue to reel from ongoing disruptions in the Middle East, which have pushed energy prices to record highs week after week.

The Philippines, which imports around 98 percent of its crude oil from Gulf states, has seen the largest jump in domestic fuel prices in its history.