The Philippine government has set out a timetable for the final stages of its review of metallic miners in the world’s largest nickel producer, and aims to decide which suppliers will be suspended for failing an environmental audit before the end of this month.
The Environment Department is sending letters to companies recommended for suspension, and producers have a week to respond, according to Environment Undersecretary Leo Jasareno. There’s a further seven days for the responses to be assessed by the department before a decision, Jasareno said.
The mining companies “will be given seven days, and we have another seven days to review,” Jasareno said in a phone interview late on Wednesday. By the third week of this month, “we hope to come up with a decision,” he said.