Philippine regulator recommends lifting suspension on nickel miner
2019-09-12 09:08:20 [Print]
The Philippines' mining watchdog has recommended lifting the suspension of a small-sized nickel miner, one of several ore producers ordered in 2016 to halt operations in an industry-wide crackdown, a senior government official said on Wednesday.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) recommended that Zambales Diversified Metals Corp - one of two nickel subsidiaries of DMCI Mining Corp - be allowed to resume mining operations, Environment Undersecretary Analiza Teh said.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) lifted the suspension order on DMCI Mining's other nickel subsidiary, Berong Nickel Corp, in November last year.
DMCI Mining, a unit of DMCI Holdings Inc, had said in March that it expected 2019 to be a tough year, with one of its two mines still suspended and its inventory almost depleted.
The Berong and Zambales mines, two of more than 30 nickel ore producers in the Philippines, in recent years accounted for less than 5% of the nation's output of the material.
Teh said the DENR has also lifted the suspension order against Carrascal Nickel Corp, but five other suspended mines - mostly nickel ore producers - have yet to comply fully with the requirements that would allow them to operate.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) recommended that Zambales Diversified Metals Corp - one of two nickel subsidiaries of DMCI Mining Corp - be allowed to resume mining operations, Environment Undersecretary Analiza Teh said.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) lifted the suspension order on DMCI Mining's other nickel subsidiary, Berong Nickel Corp, in November last year.
DMCI Mining, a unit of DMCI Holdings Inc, had said in March that it expected 2019 to be a tough year, with one of its two mines still suspended and its inventory almost depleted.
The Berong and Zambales mines, two of more than 30 nickel ore producers in the Philippines, in recent years accounted for less than 5% of the nation's output of the material.
Teh said the DENR has also lifted the suspension order against Carrascal Nickel Corp, but five other suspended mines - mostly nickel ore producers - have yet to comply fully with the requirements that would allow them to operate.
Nickel Ore Philippine 1.5%min CIF China
Unit:USD/mt
China refined nickel producers' inventory statistics by province by month
Unit: mt
