Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) is pushing through with its coal mine expansion in Antique after securing an amended Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

In a disclosure on Wednesday, SMPC said the ECC amendment increases the project area of the Semirara Coal Mine Complex from 4,369.25 hectares to 5,221.75 hectares, within its 13,000-hectare Coal Operating Contract No. 5 granted by the Department of Energy (DOE).

“The ECC amendment allows SMPC to sustain operations by including the Acacia mine alongside the currently operating Narra mine,” the company said.

The amendment also raises the annual coal production limit from 16 million to 20 million metric tons using the open-pit method, from 2025 to 2027. The project was approved by the DOE in December 2024.

The expansion covers the existing Molave and Narra pits, with Acacia to be developed once the earlier pits are depleted. Molave reached end-of-mine life in November 2023, while Narra is expected to close by 2026.

In the first quarter of the year, SMPC’s net income dropped 33 percent to P4.4 billion from P6.54 billion, as lower coal prices offset power segment gains.

Revenues fell 10 percent to P16.51 billion, while coal production rose 16 percent to 5.7 million metric tons. Shipments declined 2 percent to 4.7 million metric tons, while average coal prices dropped 17 percent to P2,481 per metric ton.