Hard Times for the APAC Mining Industry

The mining industry in Philippines is at war with environmentalist groups led by the Natural Resource Minister Gina Lopez.  This ongoing struggle is a warning of what is likely to happen in the Asia Pacific.

Gina Lopez has ordered the complete closure of 23 mines and a suspension of 5 more mines due to indiscriminate mining.

17 of the closed mines are involved in nickel production. These mines make up for more than half of the total nickel production in the Philippines. Since the year 2012, the Philippines are among the key producers of nickel.

Apart from this, Lopez has ordered the complete cancellation of contracts on mineral production in watershed zones.  A lot of these areas are in the exploration stage and none in production.

Despite several appeals by mining companies, Lopez is not willing to step back from what she has ordered.

Lopez says that by destroying watershed zones, people will end up taking a lot of lives. She says that her announcement is a Valentine’s gift for the people of Philippines.

Environmental awareness is quickly increasing in areas like China, Mongolia, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Interestingly, the governments are beginning to introduce such policies that are in the favor of the environment.

What is happening in the Philippines is just a reflection of what is about to happen in the Asia Pacific.  According to the Miner, a trade journal for mining industry in the APAC, the current situation will tighten the belt, with no relief in sight.

This will result in the closure of mines and loss of jobs. The tough conditions for the mining industry will exert extra pressure on the economy, until it fails to function properly.

As far as China is concerned, mining has been the key contributor to China’s economic prosperity. However, due to poor regulations and weak implementation of standards, the Chinese soil has become unfit for any kind of use.  Another reason for concern is the air-pollution that has increased over the past few years.

Despite the governmental regulations, the mining industry cannot be allowed to collapse. The houses that people live in and the roads they drive on are all built from the minerals found underground. All of the commodities that human beings use in their daily lives are manufactured from minerals found in the mines that are being closed.

However, mining is a messy process that results in a great deal of pollution that isn’t safe for the environment either.