BUSINESS

Berong rehab ahead of sked

Maria Bernadette Romero · Sep 29, 2023, 12:20 AM

MINE REHAB. Workers plant seedlings at a rehabilitated portion of the Berong mine in Quezon, Palawan. Berong Nickel Corporation (BNC) on Thursday (Set. 28, 2023) reported that it has so far rehabilitated 30 hectares of the depleted mine in the first half of 2023, equivalent to 88 percent of the company's 34 hectares target for this year. (Photo courtesy of BNC)

Berong Nickel Corp. or BNC of the Consunji Family's DMCI Mining Corp., is bullish to complete the rehabilitation of Berong mine ahead of schedule amid an aggressive implementation of restoration activities.

The Berong final rehabilitation program covers 109 hectares of surface mine, 209 hectares of silt control structures, and 25 hectares of stockpile area. It will be be conducted over six years starting in June.

After rehabilitation, the disturbed areas could be used for eco-tourism, agro-forestry, and inland fish farming by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, local government units, and host communities.

In a stock report on Thursday, BMC, through DMCI Holdings Inc., disclosed that it completed 88 percent of its annual land preparation target within just six months.

30 hectares rehabilitated

This means that the company has successfully rehabilitated over 30 hectares of the Berong mine — almost near the 34-hectare target set for the year.

Land preparation, a critical component of the mine rehabilitation process, includes slope benching and soil matting to avoid landslides, promote vegetation growth, and create a more hospitable environment for returning wildlife.

"We are fully committed to addressing our impacts on the environment and to our host communities. In our first year, we were able to exceed many of our rehabilitation targets," BNC president Tulsi Das Reyes said in the report.

"The progress we have made in such a short time is a testament to our team's hard work and dedication," he added.

Erosion control accelerated

Additionally, BNC disclosed that it also accelerated its erosion control and soil stabilization efforts by installing 672 coconuts — nearly six times its annual target of 116.

The company said that it also laid down 1,721 meters of geo-textiles, significantly enhancing the ecological stability of the areas under rehabilitation.

As part of the final mine rehabilitation of Berong, BNC topped its seedling production and transplantation targets for the year.

The company produced 214,052 seedlings, 152 percent higher than its 85,000 target.

From this, it was able to plant 81,709 during the first semester, which is already 96 percent of its annual target of 85,000 seedlings.

The Berong mine opened in October 2006 and was fully depleted by December 2021.

Aside from generating 1,634 direct and indirect jobs, the mining operations yielded 10.3 million wet metric tons of nickel ore and P2.6 billion worth of mining duties, royalties and taxes.