#WhyMining Industry leaders tackle issues, strategies

Supply of copper will grow about 3% a year for the next decade. By 2022, half of the supply will come from mines that have yet to be built

Social media news RAPPLER is live blogging the 2nd day of the 2012 Mining Conference this Wednesday, September 19.

Covering it are :
Lala Rimando, Katherine Visconti, Leilani Chavez, Devon Wong

Governments worldwide look to increase revenue from copper. More changes in government policy in copper mining countries: Peru increased royalty rates in 2011, Chile introduced royalties, Poland increased their royalties, etc.

Rappler has a special page for mining-related issues. Check our microsite here:

WhyMining: Engage, discuss, take a stand

This online site is home to news reports, analysis, features on various Philippine mining industry issues -- ranging from policy, economics, governance, society, and peace and order. It also hosts thought leader pieces, as well as first hand accounts of groups that are passionately against or supportive of this extractive industry.

Rappler also conducts regular #WhyMining Conversations on social media. These are opportunities for various individuals all over the world to engage and take a stand on issues at hand. On Twitter, the hashtag is #WhyMining.

For background on the recent mining policy under the Aquino government, check these reports:

1. Executive Order No. 79 - released on July 9, 2012 is the policy outlining how the Aquino government wants the mining industry to be governed

2. Impementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of E.O 79 - released on September 11, 2012, this provides more details -- and new issues -- on the Aquino government's mining policy.

Most of the recent sentiments of both pro- and anti-mining have been due to the consultation (or lack of it, according to industry players) leading to, and the impact of, these policy pronouncements.

The industry players generally feel they were not consulted enough while the government and other officials were crafting these policies that they say materially impact their current and future plans.

Key issues involve the following:

1. No-new-contract scheme imposed by EO 79 "puts the industry at a standstill" and creates uncertainties.
This scheme stays until lawmakers are able to pass a new legislative measure that provides the government a better share in the mining revenues.
This creates uncertainties since the lawmakers that will craft it have a few more months ahead and are more focused on other bills as well as the upcoming 2013 elections.

2. No-go areas, or parts of the country that are banned for any mining activities. Defining and identifying these areas have been contentious during the crafting of the IRR since the industry players say this is not in the Mining Act. Environmental groups have stressed this is part of efforts to ensure that the natural resources of an area are taken cared of.

Check these stories from the September 19 coverage of Rappler:

Live Blog: 2012 Mining Philippines

Mining industry blasts new gov't rules

Paje slams mining industry's 'pressure,' stands by govt rules

Shaping the future of mining

'Aquino mining policy violates Constitution'

The Philippines only has a small share of the world's copper deposits, but per square kilometre basis, it's very rich.

Sagittarius Mines Inc. General Manager for External Affairs Mark Williams to speak about the Tampakan project

Next up: THE TAMPAKAN COPPER-GOLD PROJECT
– SUSTAINING THE FUTURE OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO with
MARK WILLIAMS of Sagittarius Mines Inc.

THIS IS THE PROGRAM FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20:

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Plenary Session 5: Copper Trends and Developments

Session Chairman: Mr. Edwin G. Domingo
Director, Foreign Assisted Projects - DENR

08:30 – 08:50 Global Outlook and Development Trends for Copper
Adjunct Prof. Richard Schodde
CRU Strategies, London

08:50 – 09:10 The Tampakan Copper-Gold Project Sustaining the Future of South Cotabato Province
Mr. Mark Williams
General Manager for Operations and External Relations
Sagittarius Mines Inc.

09:10 – 09:30 TVI’s Model for Sustainable Development: “Mining and Agriculture Can
Co-exist.
Mr. Cliff James
Chairman, TVI Resource Development (Phils.), Inc.

09:30 – 09:50 The Atlas Consolidated Mining & Development Corporation’s
Re-development Experiment: A Success Story
Mr. Adrian Ramos
Vice President, Atlas Consolidated Mining & Dev. Corp.

09.50:– 10:10 Panel Discussions/Q & A

Discussants: Mr. Jeremias Dolino
Consultant, Atlas Consolidated Mining & Development Corp.
. Mr. Joel Muyco - Director, Philsaga Mining Corporation

Plenary Session 6 - Global Mining Policy Directions: Understanding Opportunities

Session Chairman: Mr. Johan Raadsma
President, PMEA

10:10 – 10:30 Adding Value to Mineral Resources, Canada’s Experience
H. E. Christopher Thornley
Ambassador of Canada to the Philippines

10:30 – 10:50 Greening the National Accounts: WAVES - Relevance to the Mining Industry
Dr. Kai Kaiser
Sr. Economist, The World Bank Group

10:50 – 11:10 Risk Management in Mining Areas: The Importance of Geological and
Engineering Considerations
Dr. Carlo A. Arcilla – Director, University of the Philippines,
National Institute of Geological Science
‘
11:10 –11:30 Global Mining Developments and the Opportunities for
Asian Emerging Markets
Mr. Kobus Van der Wath
Founder & Group Managing Director
The Beijing Axis

11:30 – 12:00 Panel Discussion/ Q and A

Discussants
Dr. Winston Conrad B. Padojinog
Dean, School of Management, University of Asia and the Pacific
. Ms. Carmen Pedrosa
Columnist, The Philippine Daily Inquirer

12:00 – 13:00 Luncheon Speaker (TBA)

Plenary Session 7 - Nickel Prospects/Managing Issues on Governance

Session Chairman Mr. Ramon Santos
Vice President, Macroasia Corporation

13:00 – 13: 20 Nickel Prospects for Benguet Corp Nickel Mines
Mr. Pablo Gabriel R. Malvar
Vice President for Business Development, Benguet Corporation

13:20 – 13:40 Managing Governance Issues Affecting Mining in the Philippines
Mr. F. Kennedy Coronel
President, Zambales Diversified Metals Corporation

13:40 – 14: 00 Transparency in Mining Taxation: Advocating EITI
Atty. Donna Casgonia
Consultant, PPEI – UNDP/DILG

14:00 – 14:20 Panel Discussion/ Q & A

Discussants Mr. Robert Gregory
Managing Director, ENK Fil-Asian Strategic Resources
Atty. Dennis Quintero
Partner, Quisumbing Torres Law Office

Plenary Session 8 Managing the Future of the Philippine Mining Industry

Session Chairman: Mr. Artemio F. Disini
Chairman, Chamber of Mines of the Philippines

14:20 – 14:40 An Enabling Environment for the Mining Industry: Making the
Philippines a Competitive Investment Destination
Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas
University Professor, University of Asia & the Pacific; Research Director, Center for Research & Communications Foundation, Inc.

14:40 – 15:00 Expanding Corporate Reach into the Extractive Industries
Mr. Arthur Ty (for confirmation)
President, Metrobank

15:00 – 15:20 Market Prospects and Forecast
Mr. Hans Sicat
President, Philippine Stock Exchange

15:20 – 15:40 Who Benefits from Mining Operations? View from the Ground
Hon. Aurelio Espinosa
Mayor, Toledo City Cebu

15:40 – 16:00 Panel Discussion/ Q & A

Discussants Benjamin Philip G. Romualdez
Chairman, Industry – PCCI
President, Chamber of Mines of the Philippines
Mr. Alex Magno
Professor, University of the Philippines

16:00 – 16:30 Special Event - MVP Speaks His Mind on Business Leadership
And Mining - A One on One Candid Conversation with Maria Ressa

16:30 – 17:00 Can the Mining Industry Manage Its Future?
Event Highlights and Innovative Actions
Benjamin Philip G. Romualdez

17:00 – 17:30 Raffle of Prizes at Exhibit Area
(Luzon and Visayas Ballrooms)

18:00 – 20:00 Farewell Cocktail Reception (Fever Lounge)

SMI stands by responsible development that addresses "economic, environmental and social considerations". Tries to raise existing living standards for future generations.

Williams: SMI's Environmental Impact Study was the most extensive environmental impact assessment undertaken in the Philippines.

Williams: In 2012, the SMI conducted resettlement consultation, obtained LGU endorsement, and off-lease infrastructure project public scoping

Williams: We are particuarly encouraged that EO No. 79 recognizes the primacy of national laws over local laws.

Williams: SMI will pay the government P5 billion every year for 20 years.

Williams: The Tampakan project is already impacting the lives of people in Mindanao

A video presentation from SMI is now being shown at the conference.

Williams stressed that a consistent mining policy will boost investment. Several industry leaders have warned that the current uncertainty around the Aquino administration's mining policy could delay or deter investments.

The video focuses on community projects undertaken by SMI. These projects included education projects where the company was able to help cut the dropout rate. The video also presented SMI's immunization projects in communities in Mindanao.

The video also showed SMI's efforts to reach out to Indigenous Peoples, the B'laan.

Williams: We need the support of the govt in consistent policy implementation to make this vision a reality

Williams: a healthy, vibrant mining industry can be the catalyst of development

TVI Pacific Inc. Chairman Clifford James speaking.

TVI Pacific is currently focused on mining within the Zamboanga peninsula.

James: We want to show that there is life after mining and that sustainable communities are possible.

If you're lost in the #WhyMining discussion. Here's a quick run down of important mining facts in PH www.rappler.com via @rapplerdotcom

by K_Visconti via twitter 9/20/2012 1:50:46 AM

James: TVI setup TVIRD-managed plantations that will employ local communities.

The products: coffee, cacao, palm oil, rubber, purple yam, lavender, citronella. James: The support has been overwhelming.

James: its not a question if we can be sustainable, its more of what actions can we do now to shape the future. Engaging in agriculture projects after mining transforms sustainability to reality.

The next speaker for this panel: Adrian Ramos of Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp to talk about the company's successful redevelopment experiment.

Atlas Mining has successfully redeveloped mining sites in Toledo in Cebu. The produces high-grade copper concentrate. Ramos is showing a video of how copper is mined.

Ramos: Atlas was the largest copper mine in the 80s. We suspended operations in 1994 because of low copper price and for some issues. 2004 was the year things started turning around. This is also the year we received our first MPSA.

Ramos is currently giving a quick history of Atlas Mining operations. Ramos: 2009 was a year of survival. It was painful but we made it through. 2011 was a banner year. We were able to buy out the partnership with Carbon Copper. Now Carbon Copper is fully Atlas-owned.

Ramos shows photos of rundown mining facilities in 2005 and how they managed to rehabilitate it.

Ramos: We achieved significant achievements in productivity. We are also very proud of our strong relationship with the community.

Ramos: None of the achievements would have been possible without strong LGU support. They believed in mining and Atlas.

Jeremias Dolino, discussant for this panel, says: In my experience, on post-mining activities, there should be major participation from the community itself. Dolino is a consultant for Atlas Mines.

Dolino: We have to emphasize the post-mining activities in the communities. Why Atlas succeeded? They have implemented social development programs prior to the law.

Dolino: The relationship with the LGU has also been maintained, even when Atlas was suspended.

COMP president Philip Romualdez asks about NPA attacks that has happened with SMI. Romualdez: Is it true that Xtrata is pulling out of the Philippines?

Williams: There is excellent local government relations. Of those 27 leaders, 26 are supportive of the project. As for the open pit code, we continue to engage with the LGU of South Cotabato and we hope for a resolution in due time. We are very pleased to see the EO79 on consistency of local and national laws.

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#WhyMining Industry leaders tackle issues, strategies

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