Nickel miner seeks to lift DENR order cancelling mining permit

Ipilan Nickel Corp. is seeking to have its mining permit restored by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), as has been no basis for cancelling its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

In a filing with the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday, parent Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. said Ipilan Nickel has asked Environment Secretary Gina Lopez to reconsider the cancellation order.

The Ipilan mining project in Brooke's Point, Palawan is estimated to hold resources of over 50 million metric tons with a 1.23-percent nickel content, which Global Ferronickel intends to export to China and Australia.

On December 15, 2016, the DENR cancelled the ECC of Ipilan Nickel, and two other miners for failing to commence their projects within the five-year period from the date the permit was issued.

In the letter to Lopez, Ipilan Nickel cited the programs and activities it has implemented and continues to implement in pursuit of the mining project.

Global Ferronickel noted what has so far been implemented by its unit as follows:

• Community development programs with various beneficiaries

• Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program

• Social Development and Management Program

• Three-year work program

• Survey order

• Local government endorsements

• Application for Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA)

• Land acquisition for road lots

• Foreshore lease application

• Commissioning and completion of an Environmental Assessment Update Studies

• Numerous meetings with the Mine Rehabilitation and Fund Committee

"Based on records, Ipilan Nickel maintains that the lone basis for the cancellation of its ECC that 'the project was never implemented' has no factual basis," Global Ferronickel emphasized. — Ted Cordero/VS, GMA News