Philex Mining Corporation (Philex), one of the oldest and largest copper and gold producers in the Philippines, recently unveiled its Silangan Project in simple ceremonies at its project site in Barangay Timamana, Tubod, Surigao del Norte.
The project is expected to spend total capital expenditures (CAPEX) of around $1 billion on its construction and development, and ramp-up production programs until it reaches a full capacity of 4 million tonnes per year.
This amount excludes sustaining CAPEX and is on top of the company’s pre-development investment in the project of P18 billion.
Based on the In-Phase Mine Plan and on the latest updates on the construction and procurement process, the Silangan Project is slated to have its first metal production by March 2026.
The ceremony was held in front of the Grinding Complex which is composed of major equipment such as the SAG (Semi Autogenous Grinding) mill, mill liner handler and cyclone cluster pump at the process plant to showcase it as one of the most critical areas of the project.
The process plant also includes copper leaching and gold leaching operation, with the copper leaching from run of mine ore to copper cathode production, making it the first of its kind in the country; thus, the final products are copper cathode and gold dore.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga was the guest of honor and speaker at the unveiling ceremonies. She was accompanied by Undersecretary Joselin Marcus Fragada, DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations-Mindanao; Undersecretary Augusto De la Peña, Undersecretary for Organizational Transformation and Human Resources; and Assistant Secretary Michael Cabalda, DENR Assistant Secretary for Mining Concerns and OIC Director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
Welcoming the Secretary to the project site was Philex/Silangan president and chief executive Eulalio Austin Jr.
“Secretary Yulo Loyzaga was very much interested in seeing our Silangan Project,” said Austin.
“I recall a couple of years ago at the Annual National Mine Safety Conference in Baguio that she already told me that she wanted to visit Silangan, and that the Project should be able to start commercial production under the current administration.”
“I am glad that Secretary Yulo Loyzaga visited our Project as one of her last official acts as Secretary,” Austin said.
“It is an honor both for me and for the employees of this Company. Without her leadership at the DENR, I don’t think we would have achieved much in terms of the development of the project as we have now. We owe her our utmost gratitude.”
The unveiling ceremony was also graced by the Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers, 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, the officials of the project’s host local government units, business leaders and other government officials.
After almost 12 years, according to Barbers, in the Silangan Project, they have their first large-scale copper-gold mining operation that will be opened here in their province.
“As governor,” he said, “I am grateful to have been part of history that will provide great economic, employment, and development opportunities for people.
Barbers expressed optimism and enthusiasm with the unveiling of the project, saying that it would provide the province with better economic benefits and opportunities.
In terms of social development, even if the project is not yet operating, Silangan spends around P5 million per year on its social development and management program.
Silangan Mindanao Mining Co., Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Philex Mining Corporation.
