Makilala Mining Company, Inc. (MMCI) continues to advance its Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog (MCB) Copper-Gold Project in Kalinga, reporting an increase in mineral resource estimates and targeting Q2 funding to push the project forward.
MMCI Technical Director Peter Hume revealed this at the 82nd Philippine Mining Club (PMC) Luncheon on Friday, where he presented the current milestones and future roadmap for the MCB Copper-Gold Project, located within the ancestral domain of the Balatoc Tribe.
During their mining planning process, Hume said they were able to smooth out some of the high spots within the ore body where copper grades exceeded 2%.
“That made it difficult for grades above that to be managed through the process plant. So, there was some smoothing out of that process as we developed the mine plan, which upgraded our mineral resources estimate,” he stressed.
According to Hume, they adjusted the economic cutoff rate in the next round of release, which increased their mineral resource estimate to 130 million tonnes. Of this number, only 90 million tonnes are mineable.
The remaining 40 million tonnes are already considered sterilised, but part of it lies below an upland rice paddy, which is on the corner of MMCI’s tenement.
“At this point in time, the 40 million tonnes are sterilised, not because it can’t be mined, it’s just we won’t be mining it because that’s a commitment we made to the Balatoc community,” Hume said.
Hume also said the MMCI is preparing for the early works and construction of the MCB Copper-Gold Project, pending funding.
The company already secured a water permit and applied for a tree-cutting permit. MMCI hopes to get support from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) after reducing the amount of trees to be cut by 20%.
“We’re looking to secure funding within the first—start of the second quarter of this year,” Hume shared.
He added that they will soon issue contract packages for early works and long-lead items. Hume said they will commence construction with a bridge and internal roads.
“The main access road will be managed by the province, and as I mentioned earlier, that road is already underway,” he said.
Last year, the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) approved a USD 76.4 million bridge loan facility for MMCI to advance the MCB Copper-Gold Project.
Currently, the MCB Project is undertaking key activities, with MMCI actively engaging with the Balatoc community by providing employment-preference training through a program with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), upskilling members in carpentry, masonry, electrical work, and financial management.
Hume said 100% of participants have successfully obtained their national skills certification.
“It’s not just the training that is being conducted onsite, but they go down to do their skills assessment. So,100% of them have passed, which is outstanding,” he said.
“So, we’re looking to strengthen the stakeholder support, engagement of manpower, as I mentioned, through the community,” he continued.
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