By Eugenio Lira, Jr.
SURIGAO CITY— The inauguration of Asia’s biggest mine refinery owned by THPAL
Nickel Corporation will take place on Wednesday, September 4, 2013, and will be
attended by Japanese dignitaries and investors including national and local
officials. This was revealed by second district Representative Francisco
Matugas as he stressed that the 1.6-billion dollar, or approximately 65-billion
peso, processing facility is the biggest in Asia and would generate thousands
of jobs for the Surigaonons.
Matugas, who is chairman of
House committee on natural resources, said the inauguration will be held at the
company’s plant site in Brgy. Taganito, Claver, Surigao Del Norte, where
Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe will be joined by Senator Allan Peter
Cayetano, DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, DENR Secretary Ramon Paje, Representative
Ronaldo Zamora and other VIPs from Manila.
“This refinery mainly
processes mine wastes, bought at 15 to 20 dollars per metric ton, to be
supplied by Taganito Mining Corporation. It has the capability to process a
minimum of 5 million metric tons per year and, out of this, nickel sulfide and
cobalt sulfide could be produced which will then be transported to Japan for
another refinery processing. Just imagine, what used to be a ‘basura’ (waste)
could really be turned into money. There is really truth in the saying “may
pera sa basura”,” Matugas said.
He said THPAL, which is partly
owned by Sumitomo Metal Mining Company Ltd. (70 percent) and by Nickel Asia
Corporation of the Zamora Group of Companies (22 percent), has built a
P400-million private port capable of accommodating foreign cargo vessels with
gross registered tonnage (GRT) of up to 40,000.
“On job opportunities, THPAL
management would employ 500 regular employees and 2,000 contractual employees
and has committed itself to allocate the majority of its workforce for
Surigaonon workers. Economy-wise, downstream businesses in refining and
distribution will surely flourish alongside businesses in food, recreation,
transportation and the like. All these will certainly translate to hundreds of
additional jobs,” Matugas added.
The lawmaker said that a
300-man Japanese investors delegation will be arriving on THPAL’s inauguration.
Provincial and local officials
headed by Governor Sol Matugas, together with Rep. Francisco Matugas, first
district Rep. Guillermo Romarate, Jr., Vice-Gov. Carlos Egay, Jr., Board Member
and environment committee chairman Simeon Castrence, Claver Mayor Eddie
Gokiangkee and Mayors' League president Bacuag Mayor Shiela May Orquina-Cebedo,
will be attending the event where they will be joined by Caraga Tri-Media
President Roberto Parada, Jr., it was learned.
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