About Us

We are a diversified natural resources development company, combining our operations as the Philippines’ largest producer of lateritic nickel ore (and one of the largest in the world) with a growing interest in renewable energy development.

Beginning in Rio Tuba fifty years ago, we now have four nickel mines and a fifth in the preparatory stages of development. We export saprolite and limonite ore to our customers in China and Japan, who process our ore to produce ferronickel and nickel pig iron (NPI), used for the production of stainless steel.

Our Rio Tuba operation in Bataraza, Palawan, is the exclusive supplier of limonite ore to Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (CBNC). CBNC, commissioned in 2005 as the Philippines’ first hydrometallurgical nickel processing plant, has a capacity of 24,000 tonnes of contained nickel and 1,500 tonnes of contained cobalt per year in the form of a mixed nickel-cobalt sulfide. We have a 10% equity interest in CBNC.

Our Taganito operation in Claver, Surigao del Norte, is also the exclusive supplier of limonite ore to Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation (THPAL). Commissioned in 2013 and built at a cost of US$ 1.7 billion, the Philippines’ second hydrometallurgical nickel processing plant has an expanded capacity of 36,000 tonnes of contained nickel and 3,000 tonnes of contained cobalt per year. We also have a 10% equity interest in THPAL.

Both CBNC and THPAL are part of the global supply chain in the production of batteries for the electric vehicle market.

Hinatuan Mining in Taganaan, Surigao del Norte and Cagdianao Mining in Valencia, Dinagat Islands, are our two other nickel operations. Our fifth operation, Dinapigue Mining in Isabela, is in the preparatory stages of development.

We have other properties for nickel, copper and gold in various stages of exploration.

We have established a foothold in the renewable energy business through Emerging Power Inc. (EPI). Jobin SQM Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of EPI, currently operates a 32 MW solar plant in the Subic Bay Freeport which we plan to expand to 100MW by 2021, while another wholly-owned subsidiary, Montelago Geothermal Power Corporation, has geothermal service contracts in the provinces of Mindoro and Biliran. EPI recently secured 25MW of medium to long term solar power sales agreements; more importantly, we are partnering with TBEA Co., Ltd of China, a leading manufacturer of power equipment, for equity investment that will finance our solar generation capacity. Currently we have an 86.29% equity interest in EPI.

We are conscious of our corporate responsibility towards our people and our planet. We are proud of our track record in responsible and sustainable operations, which has been recognized time and again both within the Philippines and even abroad. During the 66th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference in Baguio City last November, our Cagdianao operations were bestowed the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award, the highest recognition for environmental excellence in our industry. One month later, our Rio Tuba operation was again recognized by the ASEAN with runner-up honors for Best Practices in Sustainable Mineral Development for the Mineral Mining Category during the second ASEAN Mineral Awards held in Bangkok, Thailand.

While the global economy faces unique challenges at the moment we know that these challenges will soon pass, and we are confident that we are on the right track to emerge as a major Philippine enterprise focused on the expectations of both the global investor and the general public for environmental and social responsibility and transparent corporate governance.