Koloma Advances Philippines' First Natural Hydrogen Exploration Toward Drilling

US-based natural hydrogen explorer Koloma has begun seismic exploration in the Philippines as it advances the country's first dedicated natural hydrogen exploration programme toward drilling later this year. 

According to the Philippine Department of Energy (DoE), Koloma has commenced a 132.6-line-kilometre two-dimensional (2D) seismic survey in Pangasinan under Service Contracts 83 and 84. The survey is designed to image subsurface geological structures and identify prospective areas for naturally occurring hydrogen accumulations. 

The seismic programme follows the completion of 27,976.5 line-kilometres of aerogravity and magnetic surveys across northern Zambales and western Pangasinan. The Department of Energy expects processing of the survey data to take between four and six months before drilling locations are finalised. 

Koloma was awarded Service Contracts 83 and 84 in 2025, covering more than 200,000 hectares, and has since also received Service Contract 92 covering western Zambales. Alongside its geophysical work, the company has investigated the Los Fuegos Eternos natural gas seep area in Zambales, where the government says initial geological sampling produced encouraging results that justify further exploration. 

The Department of Energy estimates Koloma could invest up to US$9 million as it works toward drilling before the end of 2026. Officials say the programme will determine whether naturally occurring hydrogen exists in commercially significant quantities and could establish the Philippines as one of the first countries to pursue production under a dedicated natural hydrogen exploration framework. 

The project represents another example of governments actively supporting early-stage natural hydrogen exploration through dedicated licensing systems and regional geological assessments as global interest in the resource continues to expand. 

Full press release can be found here [EXTERNAL].