Agata Mining Ventures Inc. bagged its first international recognition at the ASEAN Mineral Awards following its win on the Presidential Awards during the 66th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANSMEC) last November.
The ASEAN Mineral Awards recognizes mining firms that not only observe the best practices but also being an exemplary model of environmentally, socially-sustainable, and responsible mining.
According to a Manila Bulletin report, Agata Mining ranked first runner-up in the Mineral Distribution Category, following Indonesia’s largest nickel producer PT Antam.
“Agata may pale in size compared to bigger, more seasoned mining companies. But despite this, Agata strove to be among the best — proving to the mining industry that it [responsible mining] can be done,” Agata Mining Ventures Inc. General Manager Emilio T. Figueroa III explained in the report.
At present, apart from holding a Mineral Processing Sharing Agreement (MPSA) that covers 4,995 hectares of mining site, Agata Mining is also envisioning to be the first Agroforestry and Ecotourism Hub in the region.
