AbaCore, PNOC ramp up push for onshore wind in Batangas

Insider Spotlight

• AbaCore subsidiary extends renewable energy partnership with PNOC
• Wind resource studies in Batangas gain longer timeline for deeper analysis
• Project aligns with ABA Energy Hub and national sustainability goals
  
  

AbaCore Capital Holdings Inc., through its energy subsidiary, is sharpening its focus on renewable energy development as it extends a key partnership with state-owned Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) to advance onshore wind prospects in Batangas.

The move underscores how listed holding firms are positioning early in renewable energy development, particularly wind, as the Philippines accelerates its transition away from fossil fuels while addressing long-term power demand.

The latest

Simlong Energy Development Corp., (SEDC) a wholly owned AbaCore subsidiary, has amended its memorandum of agreement with PNOC to continue exploring wind resource generation within Simlong, Batangas City. 

The updated agreement allows for a longer and more comprehensive technical assessment, reinforcing both parties’ commitment to jointly develop an onshore wind energy hub in the area.

Antonio Victoriano F. Gregorio III 

Chair of ABA and Simlong Energy Development Corp. ​

What changed

Under the amended terms, PNOC will maintain leadership over wind resource assessment, geo-spatial studies, mapping, techno-economic analysis, and forecasting.

The study period has been extended to eighteen months from the original fifteen months, reflecting the need for more robust data gathering and validation. 

The agreement’s effectivity has also been extended until Feb. 29, 2028, unless earlier amended or terminated by mutual consent.

The context

The original agreement, signed in September 2025, identified a defined Area of Interest within SEDC’s 142-hectare property in Simlong as the potential site for wind energy development. 

Batangas has emerged as a strategic location for renewables, benefiting from established power infrastructure, logistics access, and its role as a hub for industrial and port activity.

What they’re saying

“This is an incremental step that aligns our agreement with PNOC on the realities of conducting a comprehensive wind resource study,” Antonio Victoriano F. Gregorio III, chair of ABA and SEDC, said in a press statement on Feb. 10, 2026.

“Developments will follow the technical findings and viability assessments from the PNOC study,” he added. 

Looking ahead

The Simlong wind initiative forms part of AbaCore’s broader ABA Energy Hub strategy, which aims to responsibly develop energy assets aligned with national sustainability targets and long-term demand growth.

As policy support for renewables strengthens, early-stage site development and data-driven feasibility work could place projects like Simlong in a favorable position once commercial development decisions are made. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma