Gov't Mulls Shutdown of Coal Mines, Coal Plants

The Marcos administration is exploring the possibility of a nationwide shutdown of coal mines and power plants amid the country's bold energy transition push, according to an energy official.

- By Brix Lelis

Michael Sinocruz, director at the Department of Energy (DOE), said the agency has partnered with the United Nations Office for Project Services to study the impact of the closure on the economy and the country's power supply.

"So it (study) may start next year. I don't know how long it will take to conduct the study," Sinocruz said yesterday on the sidelines of the 2025 Philippine Energy Transition Dialogue.

He said the study would assess all coal mines and coal-fired power plants in the country, focusing on the effects of their shutdown on workers and host communities.

"Part of the study should be how much money or funding do we need to protect this possible displacement of workers and even the livelihood of the community," Sinocruz said.