Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC) disclosed this week that Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (CBNC) has plans to cease operations of its hydrometallurgical processing plant (HPP) in Palawan estimated around 2028. This raises questions about the long-term future of mining-linked communities in the province.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, NAC said it was notified by CBNC of the plan to end all operations once the plant’s current tailings storage facility reaches full capacity. The HPP, located in the southern Palawan town of Bataraza, is a key customer of NAC’s subsidiary, Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC), and shares numerous corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs with the miners in the local community.
“CBNC and RTNMC will work together to ensure a smooth transition to minimize disruptions to operations and to the community,” the company said in its filing on June 2. NAC stated that the planned cessation currently has “no material impact” on RTNMC’s operations but pledged to keep the Exchange informed of further developments.
Despite the absence of any immediate operational effects, the announcement has placed a spotlight on Bataraza’s dependence on the mining industry. For decades, CBNC and RTNMC have provided job opportunities and supported local development through programs in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
The 2028 timeline gives stakeholders several years to prepare. However, the early disclosure also hints at the need for long-term planning, particularly in terms of economic diversification and environmental rehabilitation. CBNC’s HPP is one of the few hydrometallurgical processing plants in the country and was developed to process low-grade nickel ore using high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) technology.
As of writing, no government agency has issued a formal statement on the matter. NAC, meanwhile, emphasized that coordination between CBNC and RTNMC is ongoing to mitigate any adverse impacts.
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