Manila: Consunji-led Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) announced that it anticipates receiving the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for its coal mine expansion project in Antique by the second half of 2025. “We expect to receive the ECC for the Acacia mine from the DENR within the second half of 2025,” stated SMPC president, chief operating officer, and chief sustainability officer Maria Cristina Gotianun during the company’s virtual annual stockholders meeting on Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, data from SMPC indicates that the Acacia site contains approximately 80 million metric tons (MMT) of coal reserves. Gotianun further noted that exploration and pre-stripping activities are currently ongoing, with a production start date targeted for 2026.
The Acacia mine’s opening is part of SMPC’s PHP291-billion coal mine expansion project in Antique. The company previously disclosed that this investment would be allocated towards expanding its existing Molave and Narra pits, in addition to the operations at Acacia.
SMPC, recognized as the largest coal producer, reported a net income of PHP4.4 billion for the first quarter of 2025. The total coal production increased by 16 percent, from 4.9 MMT to 5.7 MMT, a growth facilitated by improved access to seams in the Narra mine due to ongoing pre-stripping activities in 2024.
