MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed Service Contract No. 92, granting Koloma Inc. the exclusive right to explore for naturally occurring hydrogen in western Zambales, the Department of Energy said.

The contract is the third natural hydrogen service contract awarded to Koloma under the department’s indigenous energy exploration program. It follows two contracts granted in October 2025 after the government’s first competitive bidding round for natural hydrogen exploration.

The three contracts cover more than 4,100 square kilometers in Central Luzon and western Zambales, according to the DOE.

The department said the new contract is part of the government’s efforts to expand exploration of indigenous energy resources and reduce the country’s dependence on imported fuels.

“Expanding our indigenous energy resources remains central to our pursuit of a secure, reliable, and sustainable energy future,” Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said in a statement.

Garin said the new contract builds on ongoing exploration activities in Central Luzon and will help assess the country’s natural hydrogen potential. If commercially viable deposits are confirmed, she said, natural hydrogen could contribute to the country’s future energy mix, attract investments, create jobs and provide a zero-emission fuel source for power generation.

Natural hydrogen, also known as geologic or white hydrogen, occurs naturally beneath the Earth’s surface. Unlike conventional hydrogen, it does not require industrial production and is being studied as a potential low-carbon energy source if commercially recoverable deposits are found.

The DOE said geological studies have identified parts of the Philippines, particularly Central Luzon, as having potential for naturally occurring hydrogen.

Koloma Chief Executive Officer Pete Johnson said the company remains committed to working with the Philippine government on natural hydrogen exploration.

“We are honored to deepen our partnership with the Government of the Philippines to pursue what could be a transformative opportunity for the country in terms of energy security and economic growth,” Johnson said in a statement.

Koloma has begun two-dimensional seismic surveys under its first two service contracts and is using geoscience data and exploration technologies to evaluate natural hydrogen resources, according to the DOE.

The department said it will continue to support exploration of indigenous energy resources and encourage investment in emerging energy technologies.

📸 U.S. Embassy in the Philippines