According to MiningWeekly citing Reuters, Philippine government data shows that despite the Covid-19 epidemic affecting some projects, the country’s nickel production in 2020 will still increase from 323,325 tons in the previous year to 333,962 tons, an increase of 3%. However, the Philippine Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources warned that the mining industry is still facing uncertainty this year.
In 2020, only 18 of the 30 nickel mines in this Southeast Asian country have reported production.
“The Covid-19 epidemic in 2021 will continue to endanger life and production, and there are still uncertainties in the mining industry,” the Philippine Ministry of Geology and Minerals said in a statement.
Isolation restrictions have forced mining companies to reduce working hours and manpower.
However, the agency said that with the rise of international nickel prices and the advancement of vaccination, mining companies will restart mines and quickly ramp up production, and will also start new projects.