DMCI unit to pursue nickel mining project in Palawan
A unit of Consunji group-led DMCI Mining Corp. is set to pursue a P560.18-million nickel project in the mineral-rich town of Quezon in Palawan.
According to its submission to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau, DMCI Mining subsidiary Berong Nickel Corp. (BNC) is proposing the development of the Dangla Nickel Project.
The project, which spans 650.66 hectares of land straddling Barangays Berong and Aramaywan, has an estimated extraction rate of 2 million wet metric tons (WMT).
BNC has an existing exploration permit and clearance for mining operations from the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development.
“Nestled in a mineral-rich zone, the project plays a crucial role in the responsible extraction of nickel laterite while prioritizing environmental sustainability and regulatory compliance,” BNC said.
It intends to utilize shallow surface mining, particularly contour strip mining, which involves removing parallel strips of overburden (soil and rock) to reach mineral deposits while following the natural contours of the terrain, minimizing environmental disturbance.
BNC said it considered other methods such as open-pit mining and underground mining. However, it opted to apply contour strip mining as nickel laterite deposits at the site are usually found within 5 to 10 meters of the surface.
The company discovered that the area has a combined limonite and saprolite resource of 12.81 million WMT, prompting them to pursue the project.
It said no business establishments, buildings and local institutions such as schools, churches and hospitals would be displaced once the construction begins. Furthermore, the nickel project is not located inside or near any cultural or historical sites.
“Notably, no protected areas fall within a 10-kilometer radius of the proposed project site, minimizing the potential for direct environmental impacts on these ecologically significant locations,” it added.
