Philippines advances offshore wind and coal-blending initiatives

The Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) and the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to accelerate offshore wind (OSW) development. The agreement establishes a coordinated process for securing tenurial instruments for auxiliary and interconnection areas, such as cable landing points, onshore substations, and maintenance facilities essential for connecting offshore generation to the national grid.

In a separate energy security initiative, the DOE is seeking private sector investment for the country’s first coal-blending terminal. Currently, the Philippines imports approximately 95% of its coal from Indonesia because domestic supplies often do not meet the specific requirements of local power plants. A blending facility would allow domestic coal to be mixed with imported varieties, reducing reliance on a single supplier and diversifying energy risks. The Philippine National Oil Co. - Exploration Corp. is currently studying potential sites for the terminal, including locations in Mindanao.