The Philippines’ two biggest nickel producers are planning to invest about $1-billion each to build processing plants, the companies’ top executives said, boosting the government’s push to develop the Southeast Asian nation’s downstream mineral industry.
Philex Mining Corporation is setting its sights on nickel mining in several towns of Zambales as part of its expansion program and in preparation to the projected end of life of its Padcal mine here.
The Philippine government will step up support for the local mining industry via exploration activities starting next year to identify more areas where critical minerals such as nickel and chromium can be extracted, a senior official said on Tuesday.
“Outages are going to be a blip on my radar because they’re planned. Eight planned outages are better than one unplanned [outage],” another distributor said.