DMCI gets go-ahead for Palawan mine

Berong Nickel Corp. (BNC), a unit of Consunji-led DMCI Mining Corp., is set to ramp up its Palawan operations after clinching a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) for its Long Point property in Aborlan with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The 25-year contract, renewable for another 25 years, covers about 2,177.34 hectares and grants BNC exclusive rights to explore, develop, and utilize mineral resources in the area.

“The MPSA is not just about resource development. It’s about creating shared value with the people of Palawan through responsible mining,” DMCI Mining president  Tulsi Das C. Reyes said on Tuesday.

“We will work closely with our host communities to ensure development goes hand in hand with environmental stewardship and inclusive growth, guided by the same standards that shaped our operations and ongoing rehabilitation of the Berong mine in Quezon,” he added.

BNC has invested around P1 billion in the project since 2024 for fleet expansion, port facilities, exploration, and pre-operating costs. 

The mine has an Environmental Compliance Certificate for 1 million wet metric tons (WMT) of annual production, with operations targeted to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The project will create over 1,000 jobs, prioritizing local indigenous and nearby communities.

Several candidates are already in BNC’s Operators and Drivers Training Program to prepare them for full-time work once operations start.

BNC’s track record in Palawan includes rehabilitating the Berong mine in Quezon—the first approved Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Plan in the MIMAROPA region. 

Halfway through its six-year plan, the company has rehabilitated 106 hectares, planted over 522,600 native seedlings and 1 million mangroves, and rescued nearly 1,700 sea turtles.

The Quezon mine operated from 2006 to 2021 and produced 10.3 million WMT of nickel ore, generated 1,634 jobs, and contributed P2.8 billion in mining duties, social investments, royalties, and taxes.