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The Philippines could become the first country to commercially develop naturally occurring hydrogen as an indigenous energy resource, with United States-based exploration firm Koloma Inc. expected to complete key exploration work by the end of the year as it assesses the country’s native hydrogen potential.
The Department of Energy (DOE) said Koloma has begun a 132.6-line-kilometer two-dimensional (2D) seismic survey in Pangasinan, a critical phase that will determine whether commercially viable volumes of naturally occurring hydrogen exist beneath parts of Pangasinan and Zambales covered by the company’s service contracts.
Seismic Survey
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the ongoing seismic survey will generate detailed images of underground rock formations, allowing experts to identify areas that may contain native hydrogen and estimate the resource’s size, depth, and distribution.
“They will do an ultrasound to see what it looks like below. They will map it to see if we have a big reserve or if it’s spreading. Where is it? How deep is it? And especially the volume,” Garin said during a media briefing.
She said the government expects to have a clearer picture of the country’s native hydrogen potential by the end of 2026 or, at the latest, the first quarter of 2027, after the survey data undergoes processing and interpretation.
Energy Undersecretary Alessandro Sales said processing the seismic data is expected to take about four to six months.
The DOE said Koloma previously completed 27,976.5 line-kilometers of aero-gravity and magnetic surveys between March and early June to map geological structures across northern Zambales and western Pangasinan before advancing to seismic imaging.
Investment And Exploration Program
Koloma is investing about $8 million to $9 million, or roughly ₱554 million, in the exploration phase, including the drilling of an exploration well should survey results justify proceeding.
The Colorado-based company operates Service Contract (SC) 84 and is also exploring adjacent SC 83, which together cover more than 200,000 hectares in Central Luzon. SC 83 spans about 126,656 hectares, while SC 84 covers approximately 85,082 hectares. The government has likewise awarded SC 92 to Koloma for another hydrogen exploration area in western Zambales.
Under the government’s exploration framework, Koloma has up to seven years to complete its exploration program across its service contracts.
However, Garin stressed that drilling will only move forward if exploration confirms sufficient hydrogen volumes.
“If the findings indicate only limited quantities, there would be no reason to proceed with drilling,” she said, noting that commercial viability remains the key consideration.
Potential Clean Energy Source
Unlike conventional hydrogen, which is manufactured through industrial processes, native hydrogen occurs naturally beneath the Earth’s surface. If discovered in commercially viable quantities, it could provide the Philippines with a new domestic energy source while supporting efforts to diversify its energy mix and reduce emissions.
Sales acknowledged that it remains too early to estimate the amount of hydrogen that may exist underground.
“In terms of estimates about how much there is, we still have no idea on the volume alone, even an idea if it will be commercial,” he said.
He noted, however, that hydrogen has broad industrial applications, including power generation through turbines and fuel cells, as well as fertilizer production and other industrial processes.
Early Signs
Apart from Pangasinan, Koloma is also evaluating hydrogen prospects in Zambales.
According to the DOE, initial geological sampling conducted in the Los Fuegos Eternos natural gas seep area yielded encouraging results that warrant further exploration.
Government officials expressed optimism that the exploration program could place the Philippines at the forefront of native hydrogen development.
“We are very hopeful that things will proceed as planned, and we hope that we will be lucky enough and be the first country in the world to produce from naturally occurring hydrogen,” Sales said.
Should commercially recoverable deposits be confirmed, native hydrogen could emerge as another indigenous energy resource alongside geothermal, natural gas, and other domestic energy sources, strengthening the country’s long-term energy security while supporting its transition toward cleaner forms of energy.
Source:
https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/13/philippines-moves-closer-to-tapping-native-hydrogen-for-power