Philex sets Silangan mine opening by Q3

MANILA, Philippines — Pangilinan-led Philex Mining Corp. expects to begin commercial operations of its Silangan project by the third quarter, barring any further delays in the completion of the processing plant.

Philex president and CEO Eulalio Austin Jr. said that most of the major infrastructure for the Surigao del Norte gold and copper facility has been completed.

“All the heavy lifting works have already been done, and we are just a stone’s throw away from completion,” Austin added.

He said that the underground mine and the tailings storage facility have been substantially completed as of the end of April.

The remaining major infrastructure, the mine’ processing plant, is being gradually turned over by the company’s contractor EEI Corp.

The nearly completed facility will be the country’s first fully automated gold copper oxide processing plant and metal copper leaching.

The Silangan gold-copper mine was originally set for operation by the first quarter of this year but was moved to the third quarter due to challenges in the construction and mechanical installation phases of the processing plant.

“The revision was not made likely as we fully understood that there would always be early challenges in any new project or venture,” Austin said. “Our short-term sacrifices, for sure, will be solved for long-term gains.”

Once operational, the Silangan project is expected to broaden Philex’s mineral portfolio and lessen its dependence on the nearly 68-year-old Padcal mine in Benguet.

The facility will also strengthen the firm’s role as a key contributor to the Philippines’ drive to position itself as a global supplier of critical minerals.

Despite nearing the end of Padcal’s mine life by 2028, Austin said the company continues exploration activities at the Benguet site in hopes of extending its operations.

“Confirmatory drilling to validate previously discovered ore resources in the 1980s has been done, and the ore resource estimation is ongoing,” he added.

An initial study on the exploration activities is set to be completed by the end of this year.