In the recent mining forum initiated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) and co-organized with international think tank Stratbase Institute, Australian Ambassador
Hae Kyong Yu put in a lot of encouraging words for the Filipinos by saying that “the Philippines, with
its rich natural resources, can achieve what Australia has achieved.”
The Australian diplomat focused on the bilateral ties that continue to bind the two nations to a
higher level. ‘Given Australia’s expertise and the Philippines’ commitment to developing a world-
class, sustainable and environment-friendly mining sector, our strategic partnership is made in
heaven,” Yu said. “It’s a perfect match.”

Yu also vowed to get Australian companies to invest in the Philippine mines and to provide the
latest mining equipment, technology and services.
Trade between the Philippines and Australia amounted to $8.2 billion in 2022, making the Aussies
the 17th largest trading partner of the Filipinos.

In the mining sector, the Philippines sits atop a motherlode of critical minerals — gold, silver, copper
and chromite- with an estimated value of $1.6 trillion. Given the expected demand for technologies
in renewable energy production and climate action in the next two decades, the Philippine
government has called on industrial nation-partners to partner for responsible mining and explore
further opportunities the country offers.

The Australian diplomat viewed those remarks as an opportunity to boost the two nations’ strategic
partnership and as a potential solution to the global challenge of keeping a sustainable critical
mineral supply chain.“As you can see, the demand for critical minerals is going up but the supply is vulnerable to disruptions,” Yu said. “This is where Australia and the Philippines with their strategic partnership can come in.

The Australian embassy, Yu said, has been trying to drum up support for Philippine mining
investments and has programmed discussions between the government and the private sector on
issues as government support, peace and order, as well as community support.
Apart from Yu, the other envoys David Hartman of Canada, Endo Kazuya of Japan and Luc Veron of
the European Union Delegation also delved into various topics such as mineral production, mining
supply security, “green” investments and environmental and health issues.
The powerhouse Philippine team to the mining forum included Department of Environment and

Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, National Commission for
Indigenous People (NCIP) Chairperson Jennifer Pia Sibug-Las, National Economic Development
Authority (NEDA) Secretary-General Arsenio Balisacan, Special Assistant to the President for
Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
Undersecretary for the Industry Development Group Ceferino Rodolfo, Anti-Red Tape Authority
(ARTA) Director-General and Secretary Ernesto Perez, DENR Undersecretary for Integrated
Environmental Science Carlos Primo David and DENR Undersecretary for Strategic Communications
Marilou Erni, and Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) President and
Quirino Governor Dakila “Dax” Cua.

Private sector stakeholders were represented by Michael Toledo, chairman of the Chamber of
Mines; Ryan Washburn, Mission Director of the USAID; Joan Adaci-Cattiling, president of Oceana
Gold Philippines; Luis Sarmiento, president of the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment
Association; and, Mohsen Bonakdarpour, Executive Director of Economic Consulting, S&P Global
Market Intelligence.

The post Australian envoy vows to bring mining tech, investments and best practices to PH first appeared on Zamboanga .

MAKATI CITY – Some of the world’s leading mining countries and economies have pledged increased support for the Philippines’ efforts to revitalize its mining industry.

The ambassadors of Japan, Australia, Canada, and the European Union extended a helping hand to the Philippines’ mining industry during a recent mining conference co-organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and international think tank, Stratbase Institute.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya underscored the importance of the import and export of critical materials in the economic relationship between Japan and the Philippines. Japan is a major importer of minerals from the Philippines, notably nickel, copper, and iron.

“As the price of critical minerals, including nickel, could be volatile, a stable business environment is essential. And I would like to thank the government of the Philippines for its continuous support for maintaining such an environment,” Kazuya said.

“By working together to address challenges and opportunities in the mineral trade, Japan and the Philippines can further enhance our strategic partnership and contribute to the growth of our respective industries,” the envoy added.

He also expressed Japan’s interest in exploring the Philippines’ proposal for a joint geological survey to assess the potential of mineral resources in the country.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu expressed her country’s interest in bolstering its critical minerals strategy through collaboration with like-minded countries such as the Philippines.

“So, this focus by the Philippines on critical minerals could not have come at a better time,” Yu said.

She emphasized the significant contribution of the mining industry to Australia’s economy, citing its substantial percentage of GDP and employment figures, and expressed confidence that the Philippines, with its abundant natural resources, can replicate Australia’s success.

 “Given Australia’s expertise and the Philippines’ commitment to developing a world-class, sustainable, environmentally friendly mining sector, really, our strategic partnership is one that is made in heaven. It’s a perfect match,” Yu stressed.

“We should definitely get Australian companies to invest in the Philippine mines, and we should definitely get them to provide the latest mining equipment, technology, and services to Philippine mining companies,” she added.

Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman noted that both the Philippines and Canada are members of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, and Sustainable Development (IGF), which is recognized as a foremost institution for promoting sustainable mining principles and practices, with over 80 member countries.

“Under the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan, the Philippines has identified critical minerals as a priority for development and investment. Canada and indeed Canadian companies stand ready to support the Philippines in harnessing the potential of these minerals through research and development collaboration, capacity building and training and encouraging greater uptake of value-added processing among Canadian companies already domiciled right here in the Philippines,” Hartman said.

“To our government and the Philippine partners, I extend an open invitation to share your technical assistance requirements with my team and I at our embassy. My commitment to you is to give your request priority consideration,” he added.

The European Union, meanwhile, hopes the Philippines would be part of the Mineral Security Partnership Forum, which unites raw material producing and consuming countries.

EU Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Véron said this initiative aims to support sustainable critical materials projects and foster open policy dialogue to promote fair competition, transparency, and high environmental standards.

“From the perspective of the European Union, it is imperative that the mining industry would have very strong environmental, social and governance standards that are embedded in the daily practices of the mining industry,” Véron said.

Stratbase Institute President Dindo Manhit said there is a need to ensure a stable policy environment that is responsive and upholds ease of doing business and ease on trade tariffs.

“Because at the end of the day, if we transform ourselves from one that is consumption-driven to one that is investment-led growth, which will create jobs, address livelihood for our people, we need to take into consideration how do we bring these investments,” Manhit said.

“And we need government, the private sector, and investors to really work together and find a common interest, find the common ground to achieve that investment, that goal for the Filipino nation,” he added.

Manhit said, if roadblocks are addressed, the Philippines can harness the full potential of its mining resources.

The post JAPAN, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, EU BOLSTER STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH PH ON RESPONSIBLE MINING first appeared on Zamboanga .

Military, Political Analyst

lukeallenmanila@journalist.com

In a bold move to boost economic growth and secure a sustainable energy future, the Philippines government has announced plans to open up mining opportunities with a focus on clean energy infrastructure projects. This initiative aims to leverage the country’s rich mineral resources to drive development in refining capabilities, power generation, and nuclear energy, ultimately reducing energy costs and meeting the growing demands of the refining industry.

The government’s push towards expanding mining activities is not only aimed at bolstering the domestic economy but also aligning with global trends towards cleaner energy sources. By tapping into resources such as copper, nickel, and cobalt, the Philippines seeks to play a significant role in the production of key components for renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems.

The Philippines possesses nickel reserves estimated to account for a significant portion of global reserves, with some sources suggesting that the Philippines holds around 5-10% of the world’s nickel resources. While the Philippines does have cobalt reserves, they are not as extensive as its nickel reserves. Cobalt is a byproduct of nickel mining, and the Philippines’ cobalt resources are typically associated with nickel deposits. The exact percentage of global cobalt resources held by the Philippines is relatively low. The Philippines also has significant copper reserves, with some estimates suggesting that the country holds around 2% of the world’s copper resources. Copper mining has been a key industry in the Philippines, and the country’s copper reserves are considered substantial globally.

One of the key highlights of this initiative is the integration of nuclear power generation into the country’s energy mix. By exploring nuclear energy as a viable option, the government aims to diversify its energy sources, enhance energy security, and drive down electricity costs in the long term.

Furthermore, the government has emphasized the importance of streamlining permit applications to facilitate a more efficient and investor-friendly process for mining projects. This move is expected to attract foreign investments and drive the growth of the mining sector in the Philippines.

In a bid to support these ambitious plans, the government has secured commitments from international partners such as Australia, Canada, the European Union, and Japan to make significant investments in the country’s mining and energy sectors. These partnerships are poised to bring in expertise, technology, and capital that will contribute to the sustainable development of the industry.

Additionally, the government is set to embark on infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing refining capabilities within the country. By investing in modern refining facilities, the Philippines aims to reduce its dependence on imported refined products and establish itself as a regional hub for mineral processing.

As the Philippine government charts a new course for its mining industry, the integration of clean energy initiatives and infrastructure development holds the promise of not only driving economic growth but also positioning the country as a key player in the global clean energy transition.

The post Philippine Government Expands Mining Opportunities to Foster Clean Energy and Infrastructure Development first appeared on Zamboanga .