THE Philippine mining industry should first have a “clear cut” policy before it can attract investments into nickel processing, according to officials of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
DTI Special Trade Representative (STR) for Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Tokyo, Bernardita A. Mathay told reporters at a recent virtual press briefing that none of the Japanese firms have expressed interest to go into nickel processing, noting that “the sequence should be: we have to have a clear-cut mining policy for these people to come in.”
However, Mathay revealed that five years ago, DTI had already identified firms that should be working with them to process metals into batteries.
These are “companies like Panasonic, et cetera, ’yun yung mga tumatanggap ng [those who accept] processed nickel products to further input that into production of the battery,” Mathay said.
“So, we’re just hoping that some of these people will come in and be brought in after we have a very clear-cut policy that we announce from the relevant authorities. So right now, nobody has expressed any interest,” Mathay noted.
When asked on what specific clearcut policy is needed, the Trade representative said, “Pag sa industry lang, gusto natin makita na lahat ng paggamitan ay hindi lang ore,” adding that technology to be used in the processing of ore for batteries for the anticipated “high demand” for electric vehicles should be included.
Mathay reported that DTI aims to stop direct sales of ore as it is a “depletable” source. Instead, she said, they only encourage new entrants that will invest in processing ore into high value-added products, which apply to nickel and copper, among others, so the country will move up the value chain.
As for the planned move of the Trade department, DTI Assistant Secretary Glenn Peñaranda said Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual “would already really strongly promote our interest to export value-added minerals especially here in the demand for minerals for battery manufacturing.”
The Trade official said a working group led by the Board of Investments (BOI) is studying the options.
In January, Pascual said the Philippines can be a “vital partner” for the critical minerals such as nickel and copper, among others, not only as an exporter of raw ores but as a processor and producer of semi-finished and finished products.
He said these minerals can be used for “downstream industries” such as EV battery manufacturing, hyperscale data centers, and renewable energy projects.
The Philippines has Indonesia as a model, as a processor of these critical minerals, he said.
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