The Philippine government is in talks with South Korea on three economic cooperation agreements on green metals processing, new industries and renewable energy, according to the Department of Trade and Industry.
“As we transition into a greener and more sustainable future, the importance and prominence of green metals are needed to empower RE. Korea is trying to secure their supply. We have the green metals, Korea doesn’t,” said Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo over the weekend.
The DTI has a standing proposal to Korea to establish a processing facility in the Philippines that may include electric battery manufacturing. The Philippines is among the few major sources of iron ore—one of the green metals needed to manufacture electric batteries.
About 70 percent of the Philippines’ nickel exports go to China. The Philippines is also a major supplier of cobalt and copper. Othel V. Campos