As reported in the Business Mirror, SR Metals Inc (SRMI) and Coral Bay Nickel Corp (CBNC) bagged this year’s Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (PMIEA) in the Philippines. The awards were for the companies’ efforts in achieving environmentally and socially responsible surface mining and mineral-processing operations.
SRMI is recognised for its surface-mining operation, while CBNC topped the mineral-processing category, Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) President Louie Sarmiento said. PMSEA organises the annual awards as part of the Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC). PMSEA said that, unlike last year where there were three PMIEA, only two made it for this year’s top awards, besting 20 other companies.
The flagship venture of SRMI is the Tubay Nickel Mining Project in Agusan Del Norte, Philippines. The Tubay Nickel Mining Project showcases best mining practices and state-of-the-art mining operations. CBNC, meanwhile, operates a Hydrometallurgical Processing Plant in Rio Tuba, Bataraza, Palawan, to produce nickel and cobalt sulfide from existing stockpiles of low-grade nickel ores from the Rio Tuba nickel mine of Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp.
SRMI and CBNC were also last year’s PMIEA recipients, together with OceanaGold Philippines Inc, which won in the surface-mining operation category. Established under Executive Order 339, Series of 1997, PMIEA has been there to serve as government’s way to recognise the exemplary efforts of the mining groups and companies in achieving environmentally and socially responsible exploration, mining and mineral-processing operations.
As part of PMIEA, the government also gave Platinum and Titanium Awards for other mining firms.
Companies that received the Platinum Award are Agata Mining Ventures Inc, Filminera Resources Corp, Hinatuan Mining Corp (Taganaan), OceanaGold Philippines Inc, Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp, Taganito Mining Corp, Holcim Mining and Development Corp (Davao), Holcim Mining and Development Corp (La Union), Northern Cement Corp, Republic Cement and Building Materials Inc (Teresa) and Mindanao Mineral Processing and Refining Corp.
For Titanium, winners are Filminera Resources Corp, Apo Land and Quarry Operation, Eagle Cement Corp, Holcim Mining and Development Corp (Bulacan), Cagdianao Mining Corp, Carmen Copper Corp, Philippine Gold Processing and Refining Corp, and Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp.
Furthermore, winners of the 2017 “Best Mining Forest” contest, “Safest Mines” awards and “Best Mines Personalities” were also awarded during the said event. The contest was established by virtue of a Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order 22, Series of 1989.
This year’s overall winners for Best Mining Forest Contest are the following: Aglubang Mining Corp (exploration category), Holcim Mining and Development Corp (nonmetallic category), Taganito Mining Corp (metallic category) and Mindanao Mineral Processing and Refining Corp (mineral-processing plant).
