INTEREST in exploring and utilizing the country's potential hydrogen resources remains high among investors, the Department of Energy (DoE) said.

During an online media briefing on Friday, Energy Undersecretary Alessandro Sales said that during international roadshows, strong interest was seen from some companies for the exploration of local hydrogen sources for power generation.

"Regarding interest in hydrogen, when we did our roadshows on promoting these areas where natural hydrogen is supposed to preside, we were pleasantly surprised at the level of interest with our areas we are bidding out for hydrogen exploration," Sales said.

"There were numerous companies from Australia, Europe and North America that have expressed their interest to participate in bidding for these hydrogen contracts. These hydrogen contracts are, in fact, novel in today's world because apparently, it's only the Philippines that has bid an area purposely for hydrogen exploration," he added.

In February 2024, the DoE offered two pre-determined areas for hydrogen exploration around the Zambales Ophiolite Complex and the western portion of Central Luzon.

Sales said the DoE would select applicants with a good understanding of the possible resource potential of these areas and would carry out a work program that would efficiently map and test the potential for hydrogen.

Also, the applicants must have the necessary risk capital and financial capability to explore and develop the areas identified for hydrogen exploration.

For his part, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said that naturally occurring hydrogen has been discovered in Mali, Africa, and in France and that there was also high interest in potential hydrogen sources in the Philippines.

"Moving forward, I am sure that even our East Asian neighbors will also be looking at the opportunities in this area," Lotilla said.

Asked whether Japanese or Chinese companies were also interested in the country's natural hydrogen sources, Sales said the DoE was moving in a different direction.

"In terms of expressions of interest, I think I mentioned earlier on, in general, that this came from Australia, Europe and North America. But specifically for Japanese or Chinese companies, we have to make a distinction," Sales said.

"For their part, Japan is moving forward with hydrogen but from a different point of view, which is manufacturing hydrogen. While China is somewhat similar, but their direction is to manufacture hydrogen from electrolysis," he added.