‘Walk the walk’ is miners’ mantra as Philippines cracks down

MANILA – Toe the line. That’s the call from the mining association in the world’s biggest nickel ore supplier where members are facing a crackdown led by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who’s said the Southeast Asian nation can live without the industry’s contribution entirely if need be.

Members are being urged to “walk the walk” as far as environmental compliance is concerned, according to Ronald Recidoro, VP for legal and policy at the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines. “As a professional association, that’s basically what we can do,” Recidoro said in an interview.

Nickel has climbed after the nationwide audit began last month, with prices rallying to the highest in a year as some mines have been suspended. The interruptions to supply – as well as the potential for more dislocation – have boosted the bullish case for the metal, with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and UBS Group AG seeing scope for gains. Most of the cargoes from the Philippines, which accounts for about 20% of global mined supply, are sold to buyers in China to feed the nation’s stainless-steel industry.

“Pricing will depend on Chinese demand, especially given their slowing economy,” said Recidoro. “Prices will also depend on how buyers perceive the impact of the latest suspensions in the Philippines and the environment department’s decision not to issue any new permits.”

Price Gains

Nickel traded 0.4% higher at $10 300 a metric ton on the London Metal Exchange at 2:04 p.m. in Singapore, after falling on Tuesday to the lowest close in five weeks as the Philippine Environment Agency said the checkup would be finished by the end of the month. Prices are 17% higher in 2016 after sinking 42% last year.

Duterte, who took office June 30, and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez want to ensure that all mines comply with environmental and welfare standards, and so far eight nickel ore mines have been suspended. UBS estimated that these accounted for about 10% of the country’s nickel output, or 2% of worldwide supply, according to an Aug. 12 report.

The future of the Philippine mining industry will depend on the audit, which will be fair and transparent, Leo Jasareno, environment undersecretary, told reporters in Manila on Wednesday. The Duterte administration has had a paradigm shift on mining, and the challenge for the industry is to show that it’s still relevant for development, Jasareno said, adding that stop orders against small-scale miners were being issued on a weekly basis.

Local Processing

The chamber – which has more than 20 members, at least one of which, Berong Nickel Corp., has been suspended – is also raising concerns about a proposal to ban ore shipments entirely, in favor of mandatory local processing. Speaker of the House of Representatives Pantaleon Alvarez backed the move in his inaugural address in July.

“There is no problem with developing our industries but we need enormous capital,” said Nelia Halcon, executive vice president at the chamber. “I don’t think banning nickel-ore exports can be a step toward immediately building smelters and refineries. This has to be planned and programmed and there has to be a feasibility study that can be packaged and promoted to investors.”

UBS has forecast nickel will rally, describing the metal as one of its most-preferred commodities amid projections for rising demand and a shift to global deficits. The impact of the Philippine crackdown may become apparent only next year should exports fail to pick back up after a seasonal lull, it said.