PHILIPPINES

Philippine reliance on coal rose dramatically from 2000-2023, with capacity more than tripling from 3,400 megawatts (MW) to 12,082 MW. In October 2020, a moratorium on new coal plants that were not already in the permitting pipeline resulted in a series of coal plant cancellations by major energy companies and brought to a close a period of rapid growth. While it was later specified that the moratorium would not affect coal projects that were already included in the Department of Energy’s list of initiated power projects prior to October 2020, the Philippines' coal plant pipeline has generally stalled since the moratorium's announcement. The development of new plants has also been slowed by a dearth of financing. While 3,125 MW of capacity remains in development or construction, no coal plants newly began construction or began operating during 2023. In April 2021, the Philippines pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 75% by 2030, largely contingent on the availability of external financing. While the Philippines is not a member nation of the Powering Past Coal Alliance, many of its subnational governments have individually committed to coal phase out dates via the Alliance.