Coal mining in the Philippines has a long history dating back to the 1800s during the Spanish colonization of the islands. The Philippines consumes more coal than it can produce and coal is the main source of electricity. 20% of the country's coal supply is used by the cement industry (in 2005). As of September 31, 2005, the in situ coal reserves of the Philippines amounts to 458 million metric tons which is about 18% of the country's total coal resource potential amounting . 75% of the country's coal supply is imported. In the 1990s, the country saw increase in the import of coal due to large coal-fired power plants being built in the country and specifically designed to burn imported coal.
Semirara Mining and Power Corporation
is the largest coal producer in the country whose primary mine is in

Semirara Island Semirara is an island in the Philippines located at in the Caluya archipelago which is situated south of Mindoro Island. It is under the jurisdiction of the town of Caluya of the province of Antique. It is a major site of coal mining in the Phili ...

. The company accounts for 92% of the country's coal production according to the

Department of Energy A Ministry of Energy or Department of Energy is a government department in some countries that typically oversees the production of fuel and electricity; in the United States, however, it manages nuclear weapons development and conducts energy-rel ...

History

Early history

Coal was first discovered in the Philippine islands in 1827 in the island of

Cebu Cebu (; ceb, Sugbo), officially the Province of Cebu ( ceb, Lalawigan sa Sugbo; tl, Lalawigan ng Cebu; hil, Kapuroan sang Sugbo), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 167 ...

although there was little interest from the Spanish colonial government or private individuals to exploit the resource until the arrival of steamships in the archipelago. In October 17, 1842,

Governor General Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...

Marcelino de Oraá Lecumberri Marcelino de Oraá Lecumberri (1788–1851) was a Spanish military man and administrator. Born in Beriáin in Navarre, he distinguished himself as a cadet during the War of Spanish Independence. He was married to Josefa de Erice, later Cond ...

issued a circular to alcaldes mayores and other provincial authorities regarding information about possible coal deposits in their area. While some areas report of coal deposits, there is minimal commercial exploitation of the resource. In the island of Cebu, where coal was first discovered in the islands, it was only in 1853 when the first coal concessions were granted in the island. Starting from 1853 until 1860, saw the development of the coal-mining industry in the islands especially in the island of Cebu. The colonial government effectively had a monopoly of the industry especially after the coal mine in Guila-Guila in Cebu was put under control of the state. Coal was first discovered in Cebu about 1837. There were 15 localities over the whole island, on both coast; some desultory mining had been carried out Naga near Mount Uling, but most serious operations were at Licos and Camansi west of Compostela and Danao. Active work ceased about 1895 with insurrections, and no production worked for more than ten years. A topographic and geologic survey of Compostela, Danao and Carmen took place in 1906. The Compostela-Danao coalfield contained about six million workable tons. The tramroads, one from Danao to Camansi, one from Compostela to Mount Licos, were undertaken in 1895, together with a wagon road built in 1877, from Cotcot to Dapdap.

References

Sources

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