Philex Mining Corporation, one of the country’s leading copper and gold producers, officially unveiled its Silangan Project in Barangay Timamana, Tubod, Surigao del Norte. This marks a significant milestone for the local mining industry and the region’s developmental prospects.
The unveiling ceremony took place at the project site’s Grinding Complex, featuring a wide array of major equipment such as the SAG (semi-autogenous grinding) mill, mill liner handler, and cyclone cluster pump. The Silangan Project’s process plant is set to be the first in the Philippines to implement copper leaching from run-of-mine ore to copper cathode production, alongside gold leaching operations. Its final products will then include copper cathode and gold dore.
The event was attended by both top national and local officials, with a special inclusion of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, who served as guest of honor. She was joined by DENR Undersecretaries Joselin Marcus Fragada and Augusto De la Peña, as well as Assistant Secretary for Mining Concerns Michael Cabalda. Philex President and CEO Engr. Eulalio B. Austin Jr. welcomed the officials and acknowledged Secretary Loyzaga’s long-standing interest in the project.
“I am glad that Secretary Yulo Loyzaga visited our Project as one of her last official acts as Secretary,” said Austin. “Without her leadership at the DENR, I don’t think we would have achieved much in terms of the development of the project as we have now. We owe her our utmost gratitude.”
Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers and 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers also expressed strong support for the project. They emphasize the economic, employment, and development opportunities it brings to the province.
“This is a historic moment,” Governor Barbers said. “After almost 12 years, we now have our first large-scale copper-gold mining operation in the province.”
The event also hosted representatives from the project’s engineering and construction partners, including EEI Corporation, GALEO Equipment and Mining Co. Inc., and Australia-based Ausenco Pty Ltd., the project’s consultant for engineering and procurement management.
According to Philex, the project is expected to spend around USD 1 billion all in all in capital expenditures for construction and ramp-up activities to reach a full annual production capacity of 4 million tonnes. This amount is exclusive of sustaining capital and adds to the company’s prior PHP 18 billion investment in the project’s pre-development phase.
Even prior to its commercial operations, the Silangan Project is investing approximately PHP 5 million annually in social development and management programs (SDMP) for its host communities.
The company targets the first metal production from the Silangan site by March 2026.
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