Story/Photo: Bob Villablanca
Leading mining development company Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC) takes a bold step with an ambitious plan of reducing greenhouse gas emission by 42 percent in 2030 and a net zero target by 2050.
NAC submitted its emissions reduction targets to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), making it the first company in the Philippines with mining assets to do so.
SBTi is an international body that promotes best practices in emissions reduction grounded on accepted climate science. It aims listed companies to set ambitious emissions reduction targets and keeps track of these targets to ensure they deliver on their commitments based on the pledged timelines.
Jose Bayani Baylon, NAC Chief Sustainability and Risk Officer, said SBTi's acceptance of NAC's commitment letter indicates the 'crossing the Rubicon' for the mining company.
NAC is the mother company of Hinatuan Mining Corporation which is conducting a mineral exploration in Manicani Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar after the Mines and Geosciences Bureau granted a permit to resume its operation after it was abruptly suspended in 2002.
Baylon said NAC is heavily investing in new technologies and prioritizing the use of market-available hybrid models across all its mining operations to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
"NAC is now conspicuously part of the SBTI website where our Net Zero commitments will be traced and tracked and validated according to worldwide scientific standards. It's a first in the Philippine mining industry which is largely considered hard to abate and we are presenting ourselves to scrutiny and high-level peer pressure, it's a huge undertaking and we are proud and fully committed," he added.
NAC submitted its emissions reduction targets to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), making it the first company in the Philippines with mining assets to do so.
SBTi is an international body that promotes best practices in emissions reduction grounded on accepted climate science. It aims listed companies to set ambitious emissions reduction targets and keeps track of these targets to ensure they deliver on their commitments based on the pledged timelines.
Jose Bayani Baylon, NAC Chief Sustainability and Risk Officer, said SBTi's acceptance of NAC's commitment letter indicates the 'crossing the Rubicon' for the mining company.
NAC is the mother company of Hinatuan Mining Corporation which is conducting a mineral exploration in Manicani Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar after the Mines and Geosciences Bureau granted a permit to resume its operation after it was abruptly suspended in 2002.
Baylon said NAC is heavily investing in new technologies and prioritizing the use of market-available hybrid models across all its mining operations to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
"NAC is now conspicuously part of the SBTI website where our Net Zero commitments will be traced and tracked and validated according to worldwide scientific standards. It's a first in the Philippine mining industry which is largely considered hard to abate and we are presenting ourselves to scrutiny and high-level peer pressure, it's a huge undertaking and we are proud and fully committed," he added.
Baylon said to remain in the frontline against global warming, NAC will continue to transition to low carbon and renewable energy resources in both operations and campsites.
In 2016, NAC spent P1,706.49 million to set up a conveyor belt system in one of its operations, significantly reducing its fossil fuel usage by 96 percent per wet-metric-ton in its Taganito mine site in Claver, Surigao del Norte.
In addition, NAC also acquired two units of the hybrid excavators last year that cost P12.34 million each and ordered P125.82-worth of additional nine units to be deployed in its operations for standardization this year.
"Being the first company in the Philippines with mining assets that is accepted as a member of the United National Global Impact, the load of responsibility to contribute significantly to emissions reduction is heavier on our shoulders, and we take this seriously," said Baylon.
"Reaching Net Zero is a huge challenge but also a unique opportunity for NAC to be in the frontline of responsible and sustainable mining in the country. Our stakeholders can expect us to continuously improve our operations and our process by adopting new technologies and setting ambitious but realistic goals for ourselves," he added.
NAC is the largest producer of lateritic ore in the Philippines, 39% of Philippine nickel mine production and 5.6% of global nickel mine production in 2021. One of its subsidiaries, the Emerging Power, Inc., is a forerunner in the Philippine renewable energy industry with a target of 1GW installed capacity by 2028.
In its investor presentation in May 2023, NAC said it has a stable long-term nickel ore output due to long remaining mine life of its operating mines and substantial exploration programs in Bulanjao and Manicani that will see operation by this year (2024).(CJ/jmm/BV)
In 2016, NAC spent P1,706.49 million to set up a conveyor belt system in one of its operations, significantly reducing its fossil fuel usage by 96 percent per wet-metric-ton in its Taganito mine site in Claver, Surigao del Norte.
In addition, NAC also acquired two units of the hybrid excavators last year that cost P12.34 million each and ordered P125.82-worth of additional nine units to be deployed in its operations for standardization this year.
"Being the first company in the Philippines with mining assets that is accepted as a member of the United National Global Impact, the load of responsibility to contribute significantly to emissions reduction is heavier on our shoulders, and we take this seriously," said Baylon.
"Reaching Net Zero is a huge challenge but also a unique opportunity for NAC to be in the frontline of responsible and sustainable mining in the country. Our stakeholders can expect us to continuously improve our operations and our process by adopting new technologies and setting ambitious but realistic goals for ourselves," he added.
NAC is the largest producer of lateritic ore in the Philippines, 39% of Philippine nickel mine production and 5.6% of global nickel mine production in 2021. One of its subsidiaries, the Emerging Power, Inc., is a forerunner in the Philippine renewable energy industry with a target of 1GW installed capacity by 2028.
In its investor presentation in May 2023, NAC said it has a stable long-term nickel ore output due to long remaining mine life of its operating mines and substantial exploration programs in Bulanjao and Manicani that will see operation by this year (2024).(CJ/jmm/BV)
