Apex Mining Company, a publicly-listed firm controlled by billionaire Enrique K. Razon Jr., has tapped the Lopez Group’s First Gen Corporation to boost the share of renewable sources in its energy mix.

In a statement, the firm said it has intensified its drive to increase the use of renewable energy (RE) through an agreement that will make it First Gen’s first Directly-Connected Customer (DCC) in the Davao region.

Apex said it now has the opportunity to further strengthen its ethical responsibility by sourcing energy from First Gen’s Mt. Apo Geothermal Power Plant in Kidapawan, Cotabato. Prior to the deal, 59 percent of Apex Mining’s mine operations had been powered by clean energy. 

The agreement with First Gen will allow Apex Mining to have uninterrupted, reliable energy for its daily mining operations with a much lower carbon footprint and a higher degree of corporate and ethical responsibility. 

“This is going beyond mere compliance in our energy management practices,” said Apex President and CEO Luis R. Sarmiento.

First Gen Vice President for Power Marketing, Trade and Economics Carlo Vega earlier said that they choose to work with companies who share the same vision of a lower carbon footprint through renewable energy. One such long-term partner, Vega said, is Apex Mining.

Apex Mining said this move coincides with the emerging worldwide trend of evaluating mining companies based on their sustainability and energy sourcing practices. 

Such investor-encouraged practices are also common for supply chains driven by companies rated on their performance on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. 

“Tapping into renewable energy resources is an effective way to manage our environmental impact. We are happy to work with First Gen in our sustainability journey,” Sarmiento added. 

Apex Mining said it does not limit its green energy initiatives to power sourcing as a number of its energy conservation moves are rooted in the daily operations of its site. 

The company has an energy conservation czar and energy conservation coordinators in each department tasked to develop action plans to optimize energy cost.

Included in its roster of energy-saving programs are the turning-off of lights, computers, and air-conditioning units when these are not in use and powering generator sets only during unexpected outages and scheduled repairs by the power suppliers.