MINING NEWS
THPAL milestones in the Philippines
T
he Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation (THPAL), a mineral processing plant, was incorporated in the Philippines on August 22, 2008, to engage mainly in the manufacture and export of Nickel and Cobalt Mixed Sulfide. THPAL’s Plant is designed to have an annual output of 30,000 MT of Nickel and 2,640 Metric of Cobalt in the form of Ni-Co Mixed Sulfide with a project life span of 30 years. This Ni-Co Mixed Sulfide will be exported to the Nihama Nickel Refinery in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. However, with continuous research and development, THPAL pioneered the production of Scandium in the country in 2019 and further, successfully conducted its Chromite commercial production in April 2021. The Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation is a subsidiary of Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd Japan, and the sister company of Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (CBNC), the first company in the world to successfully employ the highly efficient HighPressure Acid Leaching (HPAL) technology that
36
turns low-grade Nickel ore into a manufactured intermediate product of high commercial value. Over the last 8 years since its commercial operation in the country, particularly in the Province of Surigao del Norte, THPAL has been contributing in 5 major ways: Adding Value to the Low-Grade Ores Using the HPAL technology, THPAL optimizes the utilization of minerals by producing several rare mineral products from low-grade ores, which is not of value before. Through its advanced technology, THPAL produces Nickel and Cobalt in the form of MS Sulfide, Scandium, and Chromite. Adding Value to the Environment The company advocates responsible environmental management to protect the environment beyond compliance and adheres to stringent safety measures while operating its stateof-the-art plant facility equipped with a Hydrogen Sulfide plant, Power Plant, Wastewater Treatment
Page 37 >
ISSUE 2 2022 • WWW.PHILIPPINE-RESOURCES.COM
