MANILA — American hydrogen exploration company Koloma Inc. will soon explore hydrogen reserves in San Antonio, Zambales to assess the viability of the underground gas seeps for commercial production.

The Department of Energy (DOE) said Koloma gained exclusive rights to explore for naturally occurring “white” hydrogen in Zambales after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Service Contract (SC) No. 92 on July 23.

The Denver-based firm, reputedly the world’s leading natural hydrogen exploration company, previously secured SC 83 and SC 84 to explore for hydrogen in Pangasinan during the first competitive bid round in October last year.

The new contract gave Koloma exploration rights over a total of 4,100 square kilometers in Western Luzon.

The discovery of “white” hydrogen reserve in San Antonio was first announced by the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) in June last year, following a groundbreaking study of native geologic hydrogen under the agency’s Surface Exploration and Evaluation of Native Hydrogen Project (Hydrogen SEEP).

Dr. Karmina A. Aquino, who leads the Hydrogen SEEP team, said they recorded at least 808 tons of natural surface outgassing per year from the Nagsasa seep in San Antonio, higher than the outgassing record of 200 tons per year from the Bulqizë chromite mine in Albania in 2024.

Tapping this freely available energy resource would be beneficial for the communities near the seep, which is currently not connected to the grid, she also said.

Aquino and her team also reported “significant hydrogen outgassing” at Barangay Poonbato in Botolan, Zambales in an area with hot springs.

Koloma CEO Pete Johnson said the Philippines has some of the best-documented natural hydrogen data in the world, making it one of the most promising settings for exploration.

“A discovery of commercial-scale natural hydrogen would give the Philippines a domestic, primary energy source and position it as a regional energy hub,” Johnson said, as the firm announced the contract for Zambales.

Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., meanwhile, expressed optimism for the hydrogen project. He said Zambales will be at the forefront of the government’s drive to develop alternative energy sources, as well as better economic prospects for the province, once the local hydrogen reserves are tapped. – Taktikom News & Features

COVER PHOTO: President Marcos presents Service Contracts 83 and 84 for hydrogen exploration in Wester Luzon to Koloma officials in this file photo taken in October 2025.