Mining for Gold in the Philippines

What are the political challenges of mining for gold in the Philippines?

As mentioned, mining for gold in the Philippines is not an easy task. While vast mineral reserves and potential exist, the country holds to strict mining laws, citing environmental impact and worker welfare as key reasons for these rules.

This is why the country reportedly holds the world’s second-largest gold deposits, but they remain largely untapped — extraction of the metal comes with concerns surrounding health, safety, environmental hazards and rights of local (indigenous) people who are at the receiving end of deadly wastewater.

This emphasis on environmental impact has been championed by the current president, Rodrigo Duterte. He has said that mining companies must “shape up” as they are causing harm to land and water systems. In 2017, he even accused Canadian mining companies of a destabilization plot.

Duterte continued this ill will towards the mining industry when in 2018 he made comments that he would like to shut down the sector entirely due to the alleged environmental damage it has caused the region. Under Duterte’s rule, there have been several mine closures and permit denials.

In response, the mining community, including the Philippines’ Chamber of Mines, said the closures and permit denials would cause harm to 1.2 million workers in the industry. Miners also said that they were being treated unfairly because of a lack of due process in these bans.

Roy Cimatu, who became the secretary of environment and natural resources in 2017, has taken a slightly more balanced approach between the environment and mining industry.

Speaking during a radio interview, Cimatu said, “(I believe) we can allow mining (as long as) it’s responsible, it does not destroy our environment, as long as it is properly handled.” That said, after over two years in office, Cimatu hasn’t lifted the ban on open-pit mining.

What are the economics of gold mining in the Philippines?

Mining accounted for US$4.26 billion in exports for the country in 2018. It also provided over 200,000 jobs and 25.7 billion Philippine pesos in taxes. While mining does not make up a huge portion of the Philippines’ economy, the effects and benefits are felt strongly in certain parts of the country. Regions like Mimaropa and Caraga disproportionately rely on the value and opportunities produced by mining.

In total, there are currently eight gold mines in the region, as well as three copper mines, 30 nickel mines, three chromite mines and four iron mines. Additionally, the country operates five processing plants (two gold processing plants, two nickel processing plants and one copper smelter plant). Finally, foreign companies are active in the 35 commercial-scale mines in the Philippines.

When considering why mining hasn’t yet taken a firm hold in the Philippines, Forbes explains that access to the sector has been “mired since the 1980s in klutzy laws, environmental battles and land rights issues.” The Wall Street Journal corroborates that statement, noting that most indigenous people in the country are not in favor of mining, and have special rights that make gaining their approval essential.

What companies have gold mining operations in the Philippines?

While the political climate of the Philippines has drawn back the confidence of the mining industry, there are still many gold operations investors should know about. Read on to learn more about them. All companies included had market caps above US$15 million at the time of publication.

Apex Mining (TSXV:APX)

Apex Mining’s main project is the Maco mine (formerly known as Masara), located on the island of Mindanao. Apex has been operating for 40 years and saw its mining income increase by 21 percent year-on-year in 2018. It attributes its success to improved operations at Maco — it produced 70,564 ounces ounces of gold last year, its highest annual output to date.

Medusa Mining (ASX:MML,OTC Pink:MDSMF)

Medusa Mining operates in the Philippines through its subsidiary Philsaga Mining. The company’s Co-O project is situated on the southern island of Mindanao and produced 102,500 ounces of gold for its financial year ended June 30, 2019. The company also reported revenues of US$129.6 million for the period, representing a 4 percent rise year-on-year.

Metals Exploration (LSE:MTL)

Metals Exploration’s main asset is the Runruno gold-moly project on the island of Luzon. The company acquired the project in 2005 and has since increased its ownership to 100 percent. Runruno has a defined mineral resource of 1.39 million ounces of gold and 25.6 million pounds of molybdenum; 1,050,000 ounces of gold are designated as measured and indicated, while 900,000 ounces of gold are listed as proven and probable reserves.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2019, the company reported that 15,884 ounces of gold were poured during that time, while 15,577 ounces of the yellow metal were sold during the same time period.

OceanaGold (TSX:OGC,ASX:OGC,OTC Pink:OCANF)

OceanaGold owns and operates the high-grade gold-copper Didipio mine, also located on Luzon. The company achieved commercial production at Didipio in 2013, and over its 16 year life the mine’s nominal production should be 100,000 ounces of gold and 14,000 tonnes of copper.

At the beginning of July, the company filed an injunction in order to maintain production at its Didipio asset in the Philippines after the governor of Nueva Vizcaya told local government to restrain all operations pertaining to the miner.

Despite this, the miner reported that it had produced 254,972 ounces of gold during H1 2019, with an output of 129,290 ounces of metal in Q2 alone.

Philex Mining (OTC Pink:PXMFF)

Philex Mining was incorporated in the Philippines in 1955, and its subsidiaries fall under either Philex Mining (metals) or Philex Petroleum (energy). Philex Mining operates the Padcal mine, which is its largest revenue source. Padcal has been operating since 1958 and is expected to end its life in 2020.

Philex also owns the Silangan copper-gold mine, which encompasses the feasibility-stage Boyongan and Bayugo deposits. The company produced a total of 61,977 ounces in 2018, down from its 2017 output of 84,638 ounces.

St. Augustine Gold & Copper (TSX:SAU)

St. Augustine Gold & Copper is currently developing the King-king project, which it bills as one of the largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits in the world. Mineral reserves at King-king come to 617.9 million tonnes at 0.3 percent total copper and 0.395 grams per tonne gold.

The project is expected to put out 3.16 billion pounds of copper and 5.43 million troy ounces of gold over a 25 year mine life. The company expressed concern over the possibility of open-pit mines being banned by the government in a management’s discussion and analysis report.

RTG Mining (TSX:RTG,ASX:RTG,OTC Pink:RTTGF)

RTG Mining is an Australian mining and exploration company that is focusing on gold in the Philippines. The company’s key project is the Mabilo gold-copper site, which has an indicated mineral resource of 227,000 tonnes of copper and 762,400 ounces of gold. It’s also exploring its Bunawan project, where high-grade mineralization of gold has been found, including 7 meters at 4.18 grams per tonne of gold. Its Nalesbitan project is in the early exploration stage.