The Philippine Mining Club (PMC) has been established by Kevin Lewis, based in Manila, with International Mining as partner. The PMC is to be a forum of discussion to lift the profile of the Philippine minerals industry and highlight its contribution to growth and employment in the Philippine economy. Besides providing a forum for discussion at all times and the latest news of the local industry, the Club’s main activities are bimonthly meetings at which there are presentations on important Philippine mining developments. The PMC (http://philippineminingclub.com) is proudly affiliated with the globally-recognised Melbourne Mining Club and is a member of the Philippine Minerals Exploration Association.The PMC’s inaugural networking session and presentation, on April 8, 2011, will be by Fernando Moya, Exploration Manager, Vale Exploration Philippines. His topic is Vale: a Global Company in the Philippines. Fernando, a geologist, is a Brazilian national who has been working with Vale for the past six years. He has been Exploration Manager for Vale Exploration Philippines Inc since November 2008 and oversees current exploration projects and the search for new opportunities in the country. Networking starts at 12 noon sharp at The Makati Shangri La Hotel.

In February 2010 it was announced that Vale would farm into Royalco Resources’ Gambang porphyry copper project, under a $6.03 million exploration, option and royalty agreement. The agreement allows for a substantial exploration programme over three years and includes drilling at the highly prospective Cableay prospect.

The second networking session of 2011, on June 3, features Ian Holzberger, Executive Chairman of Metals Exploration. Metals Exploration is a natural resources exploration and development company operating in the Pacific Rim, with particular focus on the Philippines. It’s principle asset is the Runruno gold-molybdenum project on the island of Luzon in the Northern Philippines.

Ian is also President of FCF Minerals Corp and project director for the Runruno gold and molybdenum project. Work to date has defined a resource of 1.42 Moz of gold, and 25.6 Mlb of molybdenum with 900,000oz gold reporting to the Measured and Indicated categories and 780,000oz gold within the Mining Proven & Probable Reserve category.

In May 2010 Metals Exploration announced the results of the Runruno project feasibility study which confirmed the viability of the project, projecting average production of 96,700 oz/y of gold over a mine life of 10.4 years, at an average forecast operating cost of $477/oz gold before any molybdenum credits. The capital cost is forecast to be $149.3 million, with payback within 3.5 years at $1,000/oz gold. The Runruno project will be an open-pit operation, and will use the proven BIOX^® and carbon in leach processes to recover gold and molybdenum.

The PMC provides members with:

• Access to key leaders in the global minerals industry
• Regular events, leading to informal networking opportunity
• A centrally-focused luncheon event, held on the first Friday of every even month
• Free membership
• The opportunity for industry representatives to listen to and engage with a select minerals industry leader who will present on topics ranging from industry development and trends, issues faced here and offshore, exploration, investment opportunities, expansions and general mining topics
• Underwriting of Industry Scholarships through PAREEP, the Philippine-Australian Resources Education Excellence Program, through use of surplus funds generated from Club functions.