DMCI subsidiary secures exclusive rights to Palawan nickel mine
Berong Nickel Corp. (BNC), a subsidiary of Consunji-led DMCI Mining Corp., has secured the exclusive right to explore, develop, and utilize mineral resources from its Long Point property in Aborlan town, Palawan.
In a statement on Tuesday, Aug. 12, BNC said it has signed a mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
The agreement, which has an initial term of 25 years, granted BNC the exclusive right to operate within the 2,177.34-hectare Long Point property.
The MPSA is renewable for another 25 years and will take effect upon registration with the MGB.
Under Republic Act (RA) No. 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, the government retains ownership of minerals, while the contractor provides the financing, technology, management, and personnel for the project.
The MPSA mandates the contractor to share a portion of revenue from the mining project with the government.
“The MPSA is not just about resource development. It’s about creating shared value with the people of Palawan through responsible mining,” said DMCI Mining Corp. Tulsi Das Reyes.
“We will work closely with our host communities to ensure development goes hand in hand with environmental stewardship and inclusive growth,” said Reyes.
Since last year, BNC has invested approximately ₱1 billion in the Long Point project, focusing on fleet expansion, port infrastructure, as well as ongoing exploration activities and pre-operating costs.
Operations in the mine are set to start in the fourth quarter of the year.
It is expected to generate over 1,000 jobs, with priority hiring for the indigenous and nearby communities.
The Long Point mine holds an environmental compliance certificate for 1 million wet metric tons (WMT) of annual production capacity.
BMC said the project will be guided by the same standards that shaped its operations and ongoing rehabilitation of the Berong mine in Quezon town, also in Palawan.
Halfway through its six-year timeline, the company said it has rehabilitated more than 106 hectares, including planting more than 522,600 native seedlings and over 1 million mangroves, alongside rescuing and releasing nearly 1,700 sea turtles.
BNC operated the Berong mine from 2006 until its full depletion in December 2021, and continued post-mining activities through 2023.
Over its lifespan, the mine generated 1,634 direct and indirect jobs, produced 10.3 million WMT of nickel ore, and contributed ₱2.8 billion in mining duties, social development investments, royalties, and taxes.