DMCI Mining Corp. said it expects to make 15 shipments this year, or equivalent to 800,000 tons of nickel ore, as the company starts building up its stockpile and rehire workers from two mine sites.
DMCI Mining president Cesar Simbulan Jr. said in an interview the Palawan mine was expected to make 10 shipments with a total of 500,000 MT, while the Zambales mine was expected to make five shipments involving 300,000 MT.
These targets are based on assumption that the company’s mining operations would be on full blast.
Simbulan said the company was still gathering workers who were previously retrenched because of closure orders issued by former Environment Secretary Regina Lopez against DMCI Mining’s Berong Nickel Corp. and Zambales Diversified Metals Corp.
DMCI reduced its total workforce by 80 percent, excluding the thousands of subcontracted and seasonal workers hired during production rampup. From 1,220 personnel in May 2016, its combined headcount went down to 240 as of March 31. The remaining personnel are mostly involved in back office and environmental rehabilitation works.