The Energy Management and Development Services (EMDS) of the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) continues to enhance its technical expertise in the Small-Scale Coal Mining Industry (SSCMI) regulation. MENRE-EMDS joined the Department of Energy-Mindanao Field Office (DOE-MFO) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau, Region XII (DENR-EMB XII) in their inspection of coal end-users operating in Region XII on February 19-23, 2024.

To curb the proliferation of illegal coal mining and trading activities, particularly in Mindanao, the DOE collaborates with concerned government agencies, such as the LGUs, DENR-EMB, DPWH, DILG-PNP/CIDG, and NBI. This joint undertaking is specifically designed to conduct continuous monitoring, enforcement, and other activities pertinent to small-scale coal mining operations, coal trading, and coal transport/logistics providers, including all the coal end-users.

A total of fifteen (15) coal end-users, which consist of twelve (12) registered and three (3) unregistered coal end-users operating in Region XII, were inspected in the said monitoring activity. Various details on the coal end-users were checked and noted, including the validity of Coal End-User Registration (CEUR), boiler data, coal stockpile, coal storage facility, coal suppliers, average cost of coal, average volume of coal per delivery, average production per month, coal ash utilization and disposal, clean coal technology/pollution control/environmental protection equipment, and other necessary information. It was emphasized to the coal end-users during the inspection that they must maintain their registration as coal end-users, coal trade transactions should only be made to traders with valid Coal Trader’s Accreditation, and they should adhere to the reportorial requirements to avoid penalties.

The joint inspection team was comprised of Engr. Erick George D. Uy and Engr. Mary Windyl M. Medilo from the DOE-MFO; Engr. Ian Joy Montecer, Engr. Gerard Pete N. Peňolvo, Engr. Mark Glenn Ceriales, and Gunder Ycon from DENR-EMB XII. Representing the MENRE-EMDS were Engr. Yussof C. Ali, Engr. Anwar A. Ibrahim, Engr. Omar Khayr G. Laba, and Engr. Abdulkahar C. Usop.

The DOE-MFO continues to capacitate the MENRE-EMDS on the regulation of different aspects of the SSCMI through collaboration in their field monitoring and enforcement activities. This effort made by the DOE-MFO to capacitate the Bangsamoro Government counterparts forms part of the response to the Intergovernmental Energy Board (IEB) recommendations to constitute the Small-Scale Coal Mining Industry -Technical Working Group (SSCMI-TWG). This SSCMI-TWG will be responsible for the crafting of policies and guidelines on the issuance of different permits to the Small-Scale Coal Mining Industry participants in the Bangsamoro region.