Philippines’ President Rodrigo Duterte, has lifted a nine-year-old moratorium on new mining operations. The executive order aims to boost the country’s revenues to fund development initiatives through new mining investments.
Duterte’s order, which was made public on Thursday, allows the government to review existing mining contracts for possible renegotiations and approve new projects. The document also directs the environment ministry to formulate and implement strict rules on mine safety and measures to protect the environment.
The moratorium was imposed in 2012 and included a ban on new open-pit mining projects. This ban continues under Duterte’s new directive.
The Philippines became the biggest nickel ore supplier to China in 2020 after Indonesia banned unprocessed ore exports. The moratorium lift will bring the country back on the investment map, according to the Chamber of Mines.