Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SMPC) has filed a court petition against the Department of Energy (DOE) over demands for proprietary information and asset inventory related to its coal operation.

The dispute arises after the DOE rejected SMPC's request to extend its coal operating contract, leading to an auction of coal blocks on Semirara Island.

SMPC argues that the DOE's request for detailed operational data, including specialized equipment like water pumps critical to mine operations, should not be shared with rival bidders.

The company claims these assets remain its property under the Coal Development Act, which stipulates government ownership only if assets are not removed within a year after the contract expires.The DOE, however, asserts ownership transfers once SMPC recovers its costs.The auction, covering 10 coal blocks, is seen as the first time a government-operated mine is bid out, complicating the process.

SMPC maintains that the bidding should focus on viable mine plans rather than proprietary data, emphasizing the need for seamless coal production to support the country's baseload electricity generation.