First-rate mining operators Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. (RTN) and Oceana Gold Philippines Gold Inc. (Ogpi) brought home wins for the local mining industry in the recently concluded Association of Southeast Asian Nations Minerals Awards (AMA) in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar last week.
The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP), the largest lobby network of mining firms nationwide, said that this first-ever dual recognition reiterates the country’s status as a powerhouse in responsible, sustainable, world-class mining.
“We are proud of the achievement of our two companies. Their dual wins establish the country as a regional powerhouse in responsible mining and show that world-class responsible mining and processing are already in the country,” COMP Executive Director Ronaldo Recidoro told news reporters.
Recidoro also said he is hopeful of other mining players to be inspired by such victories and continue to do well in their field.
Ogpi topped in the best processing category, meanwhile, RTN is awarded best mining that was received by Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC), RTN’s mother operator. Both Ogpi and RTN were supported by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in securing its nods in the first mining-centric Asean awards ceremony.
“We are grateful for the encouragement and support of the DENR and MGB in nominating Ogpi to present the Philippines together with NAC,” Ogpi Chairman and COMP Vice Chairman Joey Leviste said, vowing to stay committed to Duterte’s responsible and sustainable mining policy.
In choosing the winners, the MGB conducted a panel of 10 judges from each Asean member-state, with Indonesia as the chairman. Criteria mainly consisted of its respective country’s achievements in supporting environmentally-conscious and socially sustainable minerals sector in the SEA region.
Philippine miner representatives were handpicked in March and were screened by the local AMA Committee from MGB’s team of technical experts.
Aside from the Philippines, other winners include Indonesia’s PT Amman Mineral Nusatenggara was awarded Best Practices in Minerals Distribution, while Pipatkorn Co. Ltd. from Thailand served as runner-up.
PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals (Indonesia) and Siam Cement Kaeng Khoi (Thailand) were also runners-up in the Best Practices in Minerals Distribution. Meanwhile, PT Antam Persero Tbk (Indonesia) and MMG Lanxang Minerals Ltd. (Lao PDR) were runners-up in the Best Practices in Minerals Processing category.
Moreover, the Sixth Asean Ministerial Meeting on Minerals (AmMin) has given awards dedicated to a wide range of practices in mineral products and processes, including mining of nickel laterite (Rio Tuba, Philippines), gold (PT Nusa Halmahera, Indonesia), and limestone quarrying (Siam Cement Kaeng Khoi, Thailand); while processing awards were received by PT Antam (Indonesia) for ferronickel, Ogpi (Philippines) for gold ore, and MMG Lanxang (Lao PDR) for copper cathodes; lastly, recipients of distribution awards were PT Amman (Indonesia) for copper concentrates and Pipatkorn (Thailand) for feldspar minerals.
