THE Department of Energy (DOE) said Friday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Service Contract (SC) No. 92, granting Koloma Inc., a United States-based clean energy startup, exclusive rights to explore for naturally occurring hydrogen in western Zambales province.
Natural hydrogen — also known as geologic or white hydrogen — occurs naturally beneath the Earth’s surface and, unlike conventional hydrogen, requires no industrial production process. This makes it a potentially low-carbon, cost-competitive energy source if found in commercially recoverable quantities, the DOE said.Geological studies have identified the Philippines, particularly Central Luzon, as among the world’s most promising regions for naturally occurring hydrogen, positioning the country among the leaders in exploring this emerging resource.SC 92 is Koloma’s third natural hydrogen service contract under the government’s Indigenous energy exploration program, following two previous agreements granted in October 2025.Combined, the three contracts cover more than 4,100 square kilometers across Central Luzon and western Zambales.Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the new contract builds on ongoing exploration in Central Luzon and underscores the government’s commitment to assessing the country’s natural hydrogen potential.She added that confirmed commercial deposits could strengthen energy security, draw new investment and provide a zero-emission fuel source for the power sector.Koloma CEO Pete Johnson welcomed the signing, noting that the company has begun 2D seismic surveys under its first two contracts and continues to apply advanced geoscience and proprietary exploration technologies to assess the resource.He called the partnership with the Philippine government a potentially transformative step for the country’s energy security and economic growth, crediting officials for their support of natural hydrogen exploration.
