The Offshore Mining Chamber of the Philippines (OMCP) said it has been receiving many expressions of interest from major world players in offshore mining to explore opportunities in the country.
Among them are Primetals Technologies of Austria; Duro Felguera of Spain; funders from Switzerland; international JORC and VALMIN professional practitioners from Singapore, Indonesia, Europe and Australia; and other offshore mining-related companies from Indonesia, Malta, Australia, China, Hong Kong and Japan. Among the Japanese companies are Nakanishi Shipbuilding, Kurimoto Iron Works, Kansai Design Co. and JTrade Co., the group said in a statement.
OMCP said their interest was piqued after President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order 130 which called for reforms in the country’s mining sector. The said EO opened up the mining sector as it lifted the moratorium on mineral agreements.
“In view of the above interest from abroad, the OMCP urged the Philippine government to approve offshore mining tenement applications only from legitimate offshore mining companies, with adequate capital, proven technical expertise, and demonstrated capability to engage and deploy offshore equipment for proper exploration, seabed scientific research, and sea bottom profiling facilities.”
The group’s chairman Gary Olivar said the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) may start a review of its mine tenement ownership systems and processes, with a view towards delisting inactive tenement claims.
“Land banking can occur offshore as well as onshore, and must be curbed in the greater interest of spurring this new industry to contribute to the country’s recovery,” he said.
One of its members, Cagayan Blue Ocean Offshore Aquamarine Services Corp., recently invested heavily in an Offshore Exploration Tugboat named “AHTS Noah”.
The vessel is now docked in Manila Port from where it will soon be deployed in the waters off Cagayan and Pangasinan provinces for scientific offshore exploration, environmentally safe dredging of flood-stricken areas and widening of rivers and offshore areas.
With specialized equipment like the HY600 HC cable dredge, “Noah” can see up to 100 meters below the sea crust for proper quantification of mineral resources under the ocean. Its capability to do sea bottom profiles under the seabed can identify objects to be avoided, like corals, cables, vintage bombs, sunken vessels, etc.
The vessel can do efficient trenching of hardened magnetite iron deposits buried under the sea for millions of years, thus keeping the seabed ready for continuing bulk export shipments in the future. It can also be used for anchor handling, fuel and water offshore logistical support, emergency facility for any contingencies, and other offshore marine services.
The company is currently engaged by JDVC Resources Corp. and its parent Apollo Global Capital, a listed firm, for preparing the seabed, bulk sampling, efficient trenching of JDVC’s offshore areas of operation, and all other seabed developmental stages preparatory to actual commercial production and export of magnetite iron.
“The OMCP intends to establish the gold standard for best practices in offshore mining in the country,” the group said.
“Its activities will include self-policing and CSR accountabilities of its members; custody of records of mine reserves for proper monitoring, effective payment of export excise taxes to the government, and correct payment of mineral reservation fees to DENR; and public information through seminars/webinars and other programs.”