Nickel Asia Corporation

Last updated
Nickel Asia Corporation
Company type Public
PSE:  NIKL [1]
Industry Mining and Oil
Founded1969
HeadquartersBonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila
Key people
  • Gerard Brimo (Chairman & CEO)
  • Philip T. Ang (Vice Chairman)
  • Martin Antonio G. Zamora President
  • Jose B. Anievas (SVP, COO & CRO)
  • Manuel B. Zamora Jr. (Chairman Emeritus)
Websitewww.nickelasia.com

Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC) is a Philippine mining company based at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Metro Manila which primarily mines lateritic nickel ore.

Contents

Mining

Taganito Mining Area. Claver, Surigao del Norte Taganito Nickel Project Site.gif
Taganito Mining Area. Claver, Surigao del Norte

Founded in 1969 by Manuel “Manny” B. Zamora Jr, brother of businessman Salvador “Buddy” B. Zamora and former San Juan City Congressman Ronaldo “Ronnie” B. Zamora of the Zamora family, [2] it currently has four operational mining sites: [3]

Formerly Cagdianao operated the South Dingagat Mine, which was closed in October 2007 due to substantial depletion of the higher grade saprolite ore reserves. It has since reopened since 2021. They also operated the Manicani Mine, Manicani Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar, from 1992 to 1994, and briefly again in 2001, [7] and 2014 to 2016. [8] But the Manicani Mine closed for good in 2016. [9]

The main products, saprolite and limonite ore, are used by NAC's Japanese, Chinese and Australian customers to produce ferronickel and nickel pig iron (NPI). [3]

NAC's sites were among those under critical inspection of the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), accused of a range of environmental law violations with uncontrolled siltation and soil erosion, dust emissions cited as the main reasons amongst others. The Hinatuan site was one of 20 mining sites subsequently proposed for close-down in September 2016. [10] [11] In February 2017, the late Environment Secretary Gina Lopez ordered the closure of the Hinatuan Mine. The mine has since reopened after her appointment was turned down by the Commission on Appointments. [12]

Other ventures

Besides the mining business, NAC also has invested in renewable energy and power generation with Emerging Power Inc (established in 2001), (EPI), operating in Subic Bay Freeport, Nauhan, Mindoro Oriental, and Biliran. NAC has also ventured into gold and copper exploration with subsidiaries, Cordillera Exploration Co Inc, and Newminco Pacific Mining Corp.They have also ventured into the copper industry. MRC Allied Inc on March 11, 2022, sold 100% of their stakes in Tampakan Copper-Gold Project and Marihatag Copper-Gold Project in Tampakan, Davao Del Sur, and the Boston-Cateel Copper-Gold Project and Paquibato Copper-Gold Project in Davao Oriental and Davao Del Norte to Salvador “Buddy” Zamora, former campaign manager of Manny Pacquiao during the 2022 Philippine elections.

Aside from Nickel Asia Corporation, the Zamora family also owns or has interests in the following industries: Security Bank (Banking; purchased from Ronald Gapud in 1986), MANTA Equities Inc (Property holding firm established in 1990), Informatics Philippines (Part of the Informatics Group in Singapore; College established in 1993), Philippine International Air Terminal Co. (Aviation),St Luke’s Medical Center (Healthcare, established in 1903), Zamora and Poblador law (Law firm established in 1993), Cafe Lyon/Dome Cafe (Food and beverage; franchised in 1993) YUKI (Food and beverage; franchised 2019),and Pepper Lunch (Food and beverage; franchised in 2008).

Besides their business ventures, the Zamora family are also active in politics: Mayor Francis Zamora and Congresswoman Ysabel Zamora are currently serving as Mayor and Congresswoman of San Juan city respectively. While the sister of the Mayor and Congresswoman, Congresswoman Amparo Maria Zamora is the representative for the second district of Taguig City.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surigao del Sur</span> Province in Caraga, Philippines

Surigao del Sur, officially the Province of Surigao del Sur, is a province in the Philippines located in the Caraga region in Mindanao. Its capital is Tandag City. Surigao del Sur is situated at the eastern coast of Mindanao and faces the Philippine Sea to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davao del Norte</span> Province in Davao Region, Philippines

Davao del Norte, officially the Province of Davao del Norte, is a province in the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital and largest city is Tagum. The province also includes Samal Island to the south in Davao Gulf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davao de Oro</span> Province in Davao Region, Philippines

Davao de Oro, officially the Province of Davao de Oro, is a province in the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Nabunturan. It used to be part of the province of Davao del Norte until it was made a separate province in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sibuyan Island</span> Island in the Philippines

Sibuyan is a crescent-shaped island, the second largest in an archipelago comprising Romblon Province, Philippines. Located in the namesake Sibuyan Sea, it has an area of 445 square kilometres (172 sq mi) and has a total population of 62,815 as of 2020 census. The island has two prominent peaks, the highest is Mount Guiting-Guiting with an elevation of 2,058 metres (6,752 ft) and Mount Nailog with a height of 789 metres (2,589 ft). The people speak the Sibuyanon dialect of Romblomanon, a Visayan language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte</span> Municipality in Camarines Norte, Philippines

Jose Panganiban, officially the Municipality of Jose Panganiban, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Camarines Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 63,662 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claver, Surigao del Norte</span> Municipality in Surigao del Norte, Philippines

Claver, officially the Municipality of Claver, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 36,033 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Placer, Surigao del Norte</span> Municipality in Surigao del Norte, Philippines

Placer, officially the Municipality of Placer, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 29,616 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surigao City</span> Capital of Surigao del Norte, Philippines

Surigao City, officially the City of Surigao, is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Surigao del Norte, Caraga Region, on the north-eastern island of Mindanao, Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuba, Benguet</span> Municipality in Benguet, Philippines

Tuba, officially the Municipality of Tuba,, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Benguet, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 48,312 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Environment and Natural Resources</span> Philippine government agency

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, abbreviated as DENR, is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the conservation, management, development, and proper use of the country’s environment in natural resources, specifically forest and grazing lands, mineral resources, including those in reservation and watershed areas, and lands of the public domain, as well as the licensing and regulation of all natural resources as may be provided for by law in order to ensure equitable sharing of the benefits derived therefrom for the welfare of the present and future generations of Filipinos.

Asa Resources Group is a mining company based in Johannesburg and London. According to the company's website, it is the first African-owned and African-managed business to be listed in the Resources sector of the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market. Asa was founded in 1987.

Mining in Ecuador was slow to develop in comparison to other Latin American countries, in spite of large mineral reserves. As late as 2012, according to the United Nations, Ecuador received less foreign direct investment per person than any other country in Latin America. During the 1980s, mining contributed only 0.7 percent to the Ecuadorian economy and employed around 7,000 people. Minerals were located in regions with little to no access, hindering exploration. Ecuador has reserves of gold, silver, copper, zinc, uranium, lead, sulfur, kaolin and limestone. The latter practically dominated the early industry as it was used in local cement plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region 13 (Philippines)</span>

Mines and Geosciences Bureau - Caraga Region also known as the Caraga Administrative Region, is a government agency responsible for the regulation, management, and development of the mineral resources in the region. It is under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Caraga Region is located at northeastern part of Mindanao. It includes the five provinces of Dinagat Province, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur. Caraga Region is now hosting several mining projects producing various mineral commodities particularly but not limited to gold, copper, chrome, nickel, iron and limestone for concrete cement production. This makes the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Regional Office No. 13 with Office located in Surigao City plays important role in the region's economy, job generation, social and environmental enhancement and protection and ensuring government shares through royalties and taxes.

MRC Allied Inc. (MRC) is a property development firm in the Philippines. It is a publicly listed property development firm which has a position in the development of master planned, integrated residential, commercial, recreational, tourism and industrial areas within a single community or township.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nickel mine</span> Mine that produces nickel

A nickel mine is a mine that produces nickel. Some mines produce nickel primarily, while some mines produce nickel as a side-product of some other metal that has a higher concentration in the ore.

The Cerro Matoso mine in northwest of Colombia is one of the largest open-pit ferronickel mines in the world. and the largest mine of South America, containing the largest nickel reserve in Colombia. It is operated by Cerro Matoso S.A., a company that was owned by Hanna Company and the Instituto de Fomento Industrial (IFI), then by Shell, Billiton, and then the Anglo-Australian multinational BHP, since 2015 is owned by South32. There have been allegations that the mine's operations have caused heavy metal pollution affecting especially local indigenous Zenu and Afro-Descendant residents. These allegations have been rejected by Cerro Matoso on the basis of the available scientific and medical evidence. In March 2018 a Review Chamber of the Constitutional Court of Colombia ordered Cerro Matoso to pay damages to local communities. This decision was reversed partially in September 2018 by the Plenary Chamber of the Constitutional Court on the basis that it did not comply with constitutional precedent for payment of damages and noting that there was no evidence of a direct correlation between the mining operations and the alleged damages.

The Tampakan deposit is a large copper and gold orebody located in the south of the Philippines in Tampakan, South Cotabato. Tampakan represents one of the largest copper resources in the Philippines and in the world having an estimated resource of 2.94 billion tonnes of ore grading 0.6% copper. The deposit also has a resource of 18 million oz of gold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manicani Island</span>

Manicani is a small island in Leyte Gulf, Philippines. The local governing body is the municipality of Guiuan of Eastern Samar province. Its 3,000 residents live in four barangays: San Jose, Banaag, Hamorawon and Buenavista. Housing and construction is mostly simple timber or concrete huts without power or plumbing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronaldo Zamora</span>

Ronaldo "Ronny" Bayan Zamora is a Filipino lawyer and politician who previously served as representative of the lone district of San Juan. He topped the bar exams in 1969 and was among the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines in 1972. He is also a Senior Partner of Zamora Poblador Vasquez & Bretaña Law Offices. His brothers are Manuel “Manny” Zamora Jr. and Salvador “Buddy” Zamora.

References

  1. "Nickel Asia (NIKL:Philippine Stock Exchange)". Bloomberg. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  2. "Manuel Zamora". Forbes.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  3. 1 2 "About Us - Nickel Asia". Nickel Asia. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  4. "Hinatuan Mining Corporation Tagana-an Nickel Project" (PDF). Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippines. 16 June 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 November 2023.
  5. "Hinatuan Mining Corporation". Nickel Asia. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023.
  6. "Cagdianao Mining Corporation". Nickel Asia. Archived from the original on 7 January 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Nickel Asia Corporation 17-A Annual Report 2010" (PDF). Nickel Asia. p. 1.
  8. Domingo, Ronnel W. (27 July 2016). "Nickel project reopening boosts local economy, creates jobs". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023.
  9. Remo, Amy R. (25 July 2016). "DENR: Hinatuan nickel mine closure voluntary". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 25 July 2016.
  10. Cordero, Ted (27 September 2016). "Environmental Crackdown: DENR proposes to close 20 more mines in light of audit results". GMA News. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017.
  11. Cruz, Enrico Dela; Serapio Jr, Manolo (1 February 2017). "Philippines to shut half of mines, mostly nickel, in environmental clampdown". Reuters. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  12. "Mine profile: Hinatuan Mining Corp". Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. March 2021.