Quarantine Protocols Set for Philippines Miners, an Industrial Info Market Brief

The Philippine's Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has set guidelines for the mining industry, deeming it in the low-risk category, to jump-start the sector into full capacity as the country continues general community quarantine due to COVID-19. Ramp-up for mining operations and processing plants are expected to be gradual as essential medical equipment, work-from-home arrangements, and additional health and safety measures are implemented to protect personnel against infection on-site. Nickel miners recently restarted mining and direct-shipping ore (DSO) operations in the country's nickel mining region, south of the archipelago, after the provincial government lifted stringent lockdown measures in all industries. Fourteen-day quarantines enforced in shipping vessels carrying ore are also disrupting the nickel supply chain for local miners complying with new port protocols.