3 OPMC exploration areas assigned with EXPAs

Three of Oriental Petroleum and Minerals Corporation’s (OPMC) mining exploration areas for nickel and other associated metals in Zambales and Dinagat Islands have been assigned with Exploration Permit Applications (EXPA) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

Based on OPMC’s disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday, the MGB designated the Zambales mining areas as EXPA No. 000240-III and EXPA No. 000241-III, while the one in Dinagat Islands was assigned as EXPA No. 000248-XIII.

In January, OPMC had already applied for EPs to explore over 14,000 hectares of land in the two provinces for the said metals. The EPs in Zambales cover a total of five areas with an area of 13,816 hectares, while the two EPs in the Dinagat Islands have a combined area of 863 hectares.

Aside from mining, OPMC has an oil exploration interest in Service Contract 14 in the West Philippines off the coast of northern Palawan.