Berong Nickel Corporation (BNC), a subsidiary of the Consunji family’s DMCI Mining Corporation, reported that it has successfully rehabilitated over 30 hectares of the now-depleted Berong nickel mine.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), the firm said this means it has completed 88 percent of its annual land preparation target within just six months. The full-year target was set at 34 hectares.

"We are fully committed to addressing our impacts on the environment and to our host communities. In our first year, we were able to exceed many of our rehabilitation targets,” said BNC president Tulsi Das C. Reyes. 

He added that, “the progress we have made in such a short time is a testament to our team's hard work and dedication."

In addition to the land preparation, BNC accelerated its erosion control and soil stabilization efforts by installing 672 coconets, nearly six times its annual target of 116.

The company also laid down 1,721 meters of geo-textiles, significantly enhancing the ecological stability of the areas under rehabilitation.

Land preparation, a critical component of the mine rehabilitation process, includes slope benching and soil matting to avoid landslides, promote vegetation growth and create a more hospitable environment for returning wildlife. 

In line with its goal to fast track the final mine rehabilitation of Berong, BNC topped its seedling production and transplantation targets for 2023. 

The company produced 214,052 seedlings, 152 percent higher than its 85,000 target. From this, it was able to plant 81,709 during the first semester, which is already 96 percent of its annual target of 85,000 seedlings.

The Berong mine opened in October 2006 and was fully depleted by December 2021. Aside from generating 1,634 direct and indirect jobs, the mining operations yielded 10.3 million wet metric tons (WMT) of nickel ore and P2.6 billion worth of mining duties, royalties and taxes.

To be conducted over a six-year period starting June 2022, the Berong final rehabilitation program covers 109 hectares of surface mine, 209 hectares of silt control structures and 25 hectares of stockpile area. 

After rehabilitation, the disturbed areas could be used for eco-tourism, agro-forestry and inland fish farming by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local government units (LGUs) and host communities.