PH’s metals output falls but value higher at B

First 6 months

Improved metal prices in the world market resulted to a slight uptick on the value of the country's exported mineral resources but it had done very little to push or influence local miners to produce more in terms of volume.

A data from Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) showed yesterday that the country's production of nickel, gold, copper, and mixed nickel-cobalt sulfide all went down during the first half of the year.

Production of nickel direct shipping ore particularly declined by 12 percent to 116,781 metric tons from 133,332 metric tons in the same period last year.

Among the nickel mines, Citinickel Mines and Development Corporation in Palawan, SR Metals, Inc. in Agusan Del Norte, and Carrascal Nickel Corporation in Surigao del Sur suffered the largest shortfalls.

Major producers like Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation in Palawan, and Taganito Mining Corporation in Surigao Del Norte also incurred production setbacks both in volume and value.

Of the 29 nickel mines in the country, 11, or almost 38 percent, reported zero production, whether due to suspended operations or were under care/maintenance status.

As for gold, it incurred volume deficit of 8 percent, producing only 10,703 kilograms from 11,674 kilograms last year.

This was attributed to the 31 percent, or 1,457 kilograms, production shortfall of major producers such as OceanaGold (Philippines), Inc. and Philex Mining Corporation.

Mixed nickel-cobalt sulfide and copper also reported lower plant output.

For the period, the production circle was composed of 18 nickel mines, seven gold mines with silver as co-product, four copper mines with gold and silver as co-products, one chromite mines, two nickel plant, and several smallscale gold mining operations.

The total Philippine metallic mineral production value specifically advanced by 4 percent from 152.42 billion to 154.57 billion year-on-year, or an increase of 12.14 billion.

The positive trend was brought about by the improved metal prices in the world market, MGB explained.