Volume of nickel ore stockpiles that can be sold from two mines exceed 1 mln tonnes

Total volume of nickel ore at eight mines unlikely to exceed 5 mln tonnes

  • The Philippines' environment agency has allowed eight suspended nickel ore miners to ship out stockpiles of mined ore, sources told Reuters, temporarily boosting supply from the world's top exporter of the raw metal after a major mining crackdown.
  • More than half of all mines in the Philippines have been ordered to permanently shut to protect watersheds in an eight-month campaign led by Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Regina Lopez.
  • Allowing the halted mines to sell their stocked nickel ore is aimed at limiting the potential build up of silt in nearby waters, an official with knowledge of the order said, rather than the government toning down its campaign.

more to come