Didipio Mine Wins Asean Mineral Awards

OceanaGold’s Didipio gold-copper mine has brought honor to the country bagging the Best Practices in Sustainable Resource Development in the Mineral Processing Category in the First ASEAN Mineral Awards (AMA). OceanaGold represented the Philippines in the said category and bested other mining firms from the ASEAN region.

The award was received by Dr. Jose Leviste Jr., Chairman of OceanaGold (Philippines) Inc., accompanied by Didipio Mine General Manager David Way, Metallurgical Superintendent Hilbert Cardenas and Community Relations and Communications Manager Nericel Langres. Dr. Leviste and Ms. Langres presented to the AMA Board of Judges (AMA BOJ), the best practices of the Didipio Mine in occupational health and safety, environmental management, and community development last November 28, 2017. The First ASEAN Mineral Awards was held during the 6th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals(AMMIN) from November 28 -30, 2017 at the M Gallery in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The awarding ceremony was held at the gala dinner of the AMMIN last November 30, 2017 in the same venue.

Leviste said, “We are very excited to bring home this prestigious award to the Philippines and to the Didipio Mine. We deliver EXCELLENCE. We help an entire workforce and community realize their potentials. Our values hinge on taking action to perform better, taking ownership of every decision and making sure that each decision is guided by our standard of excellence and integrity.”

Competing countries against the Philippines in the said category are Lao PDR and Indonesia who were adjudicated in terms of their project’s impact, sustainability, and replicability and originality. Finalists were selected in September this year, with each finalist presenting their entries before the AMA BOJ in conjunction with the 2017 ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Minerals (ASOMM) last November 28.

Didipio Mine’s fully automated process plant is known for utilizing clean technology in extracting gold and copper, among the few processing plants in the world that are cyanide and mercury-free. Up to 90% of the non-hazardous water in its tailings storage facility is recycled in the plant, lessening the need for fresh water and preserving natural resources in its host community.

“Our people and communities have inspired us to become world-class responsible miners, aiming to deliver excellent performance that ensures meaningful and sustainable development,” David Way, General Manager of the Didipio Operation said.

The ASEAN Mineral Awards has been created by the Special Task Force (STF) of the ASOMM to recognize mining companies with outstanding contributions in promoting environmentally and socially sustainable minerals development in the region.

Nickel Asia’s Rio Tuba nickel mine in Palawan also won the ASEAN Mineral Award for Mining.