Nickel mining in the Philippines will greatly benefit from the current global interest in electric vehicles (EVs), according to DMCI Mining Corp.
But the company said the sector needs government support like subsidies and infrastructure to realize the full potential especially if battery manufacturing plants and ore processing facilities were to be setup in the country.
Tulsi Das Reyes, DMCI Mining president, in a briefing in Makati City on Wednesday, said demand for nickel has been supported by the growing popularity of EVs and hybrid vehicles as the metal is a primary material to produce batteries.
Reyes said the company is getting inquiries for nickel ore supply from Europe, US and China, among others.
Reyes added DMCI Mining currently has at least 100 million tons of nickel reserves in Palawan, enough to support a battery company to operate sustainably.
