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Most of the technology/ things we rely on are made from minerals or uses minerals for its production.

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Most of the technology/ things we rely on are made from minerals or uses minerals for its production.

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Artatez, Diana Marie E.
The mining industry is the source of many materials we use today. Copper is used in electrical wiring. Gold is used in many computer technologies and silver is often used in electronic circuitry. Aluminum is one of the most commonly used metals in aircraft manufacturing, ship-building, and the train and automobile industry.

Materials gathered are also used in construction. Industrial minerals are used, either in processed or natural state, to make building materials, paint, ceramics, glass, plastics, paper, electronics, detergents, medications and medical devices, and many more industrial and domestic products. Industrial minerals for construction: Aggregates (sand, crushed stone, cement, gravel)

References: https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/mining/ubiquitous-industrial-minerals-natures-most-popular-raw-materials/
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/chemistry/what-metal/content-section-4

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This free course, What is a metal? explores the main characteristic properties of metals and their varied use in our everyday lives. Each metal has its own personal signature and you will undertake...

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Esguerra, Zaryha Jane L.

Mining, first and foremost, is the source of mineral supplies and commodities that is essential in order for humanity to live. It is used in constructing buildings, building automobiles and computers, even in generating electricity.

The mining industry also plays a significant role in the socio-economy, land, and technology development around the world. It provides jobs or employment opportunities, increases the gross domestic product, and produces income in the form of taxes.

Mining as well can provide a better life for everyone. Due to the site preparation or rehabilitation afterward, the landscape of the area will be improved. Dust control and land stability will be against erosion as a result of planting and land water spray. Constructing new roads, power and groundwater sources, health centers and schools provide a more accessible community.

Moreover, the major argument against the mining industry is that mineral resources are finite and non-renewable. However, they are recyclable. Metals are reusable resources. The reusable nature of metals contributes to the sustainability of their use. Recycling, a significant factor in the supply of many of the metals used by our society, provides environmental benefits.

Another upside of mining is that there are many different kinds of mining. For instance, mining can either be done on land or also in our oceans. This gives countries a great level of flexibility regarding which sort of mining they want to engage in. Therefore, countries can always choose the sort of mining that is most efficient and least harmful for our environment, which can help to protect our ecosystems to a certain extent.

Mining research and development can not only lead to new technologies that reduce production costs. It can also enhance the quality of existing mineral commodities while reducing their negative environmental impacts.

References:
https://www.nap.edu/read/10318/chapter/4
https://blog.se.com/mining-metals-minerals/2016/02/19/5-reasons-why-the-world-needs-mining-and-always-will/
https://environmental-conscience.com/mining-pros-cons/

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Mangundayao, Carlo F.

Mining is such a controversial industry that has made many raise eyebrows and disagree. As opinions and arguments escalated one after another, it got me thinking if the mining industry was to be removed, how are we supposed to live from then on? Can life continue and move on?

Being in a more advanced and modernized world, our life revolves around technology so much that we depend just about every aspect of our life on it. During this pandemic, I realized that we are now even much more reliant on gadgets, the internet, and instruments crucial for our daily life. Do you know that those that I’ve mentioned and even the drinking glass and plates we just used right after we ate our meal would not possibly be created without the aid of mining? Every metal, rock, and precious ores have been proving its use through the years not just for ornamental purposes but also for practical uses. We should also consider that life is fast-paced and generations pass on and another version comes on, for now, we can only imagine flying cars and floating buildings but we will not know for sure in the future but what we know for now is that the world is always starving for changes and to satiate the desire to constant innovation we require those minerals that can only be acquired through mining. One can also not be a substitute for another, almost all of the minerals happen to be unique and it can’t be replaced by any alternative, if it can, it would affect the efficiency of the product heavily. Most of all, mining is such a big industry amounting to a whopping one trillion dollars in the world, meaning the profit it gave to the economy can’t just be disregarded.

On a side note, innovation and new legislation brought about big changes to the mining industry. Risks and hazards have lessened and improved, this means that working conditions and mining repercussions will be much better in the coming years. We cannot ignore how mining has become very integrated into our life; it is something that is stuck and can no longer be removed considering what our world is currently in. Without the mined minerals mining will give us, it’d be impossible for us to simply transition to what, a wooden oven? An ornamental gadget? Mining is and should no longer be considered as damaging because the industry is constantly changing, having new inventions and discoveries which even need mining to execute. This is why I think removing mining will never be an option; instead, we should face, use it, and make mining a more sustainable industry as we go forward.

References:
*5 Reasons Why the World Needs Mining …And Always Will - Schneider Electric Blog (se.com)
*A Glance At The Philippine Mining Industry - YouTube

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Thanks to all the recent headlines about the decline in commodity prices and the resulting difficulties being faced by virtually all companies involved in the mining sector, there has been a lot of speculation about the long term viability and sustainability of the industry.

To shed some light on the situation and to emphasize how critical the mining industry is to our way of life, below I have shared my personal opinion about the importance of mining and why it stands to be around for a very, very long time:

We need to start from a basic statement: The modern world simply can't function without mining; Mineral products are essential components for cell phones, cars, energy towers, solar panels, wind turbines, fertilizers, machinery and all kinds of construction.

Just as an example, according to the US Mineral Information Institute, annually retired cell phones in US (around 130 million) contain almost 2,100 metric tons of copper, 46 metric tons of silver, 3.9 metric tons of gold, 2 metric tons of palladium, and 0.04 metric tons of platinum. Even knowing most of these materials can be recycled, it puts into perspective the amount of minerals required to build such devices.

In reality, the mining industry is just the starting point of an important value chain. According to another study, this one by the World Economic Forum, the entire mining and metals industry moves a 1 trillion dollar economy.

The mining industry is driven by fundamental forces

The population, urbanization and income growth will demand more buildings, cars, and consumer products, thereby increasing the needs for mined products as the building blocks of this growth.

Urbanization is a growth force for mining activities

One of the arguments for a potential decline in mining activities is around the use of substitutes - usually a mineral or metal product being substituted by other products of other origins. We have seen certain metals replaced by carbon fiber, and coal replaced by gas or other fuel sources. However, in general, there are limitations regarding metals and minerals substitution. A Yale study, after the evaluation of several metals used in various consumer products, reached the conclusion that "not one metal has an 'exemplary' substitute for all its major uses," and for some of them a substitute for each of its primary uses does not exist at all, or is inadequate.

Many countries need mining to not only thrive, but also to survive

Mining is the economic foundation for a number of developing countries. According to ICMM (International Council on Mining and Metals), at least 70 countries are extremely dependent on the mining industry and most low income countries need it to simply survive. This same study shows that in many low-middle income countries, mining accounts for as much as 60-90% of total foreign direct investment!

Mining is already a high-tech and sustainable industry

The top mining companies have made and continue to make massive investments in breakthrough technologies, such as autonomous systems, IoT (Internet of Things) and sensing technologies, adaptative supply chain, simulation, and the use of drones for environmental and production management. This silent revolution not only provides many operational benefits, but it also helps to attract new professionals arriving in the market and meets the demand by local communities for miners to provide a sustainable operation.

Conclusion

Despite the recent roller coaster in commodity prices, the mining industry is unlikely to lose its place in the global economy, and thanks to the world's constantly growing demand for the products that mining makes possible, it will even increase in significance as the years go by.

Want more proof of mining's enduring staying power? Click the link to visit Ngwenya Mine in Swaziland, the oldest mine in the world. How old? 43,000 years old and actively mined as recently as 1979!

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5 Reasons Why the World Needs Mining ...And Always Will

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Instead of losing its place in the global economy, the mining industry will significantly increase due to the growing demand for mining-related products.

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Medical Technologies depend on minerals that are mined

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Medical Technologies depend on minerals that are mined

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Marges, Deicee Mae

Many are not aware of this fact but minerals are essential to the technologies and are key to many of the medicinal innovations we see today. In fact, gold and lithium are essential to sophisticate medical equipment, including life-supporting devices, pacemakers, and heart stents, and it is used in the treatment of heart disease.  Likewise, silver and gold are crucial materials to operate CAT scan devices. Silver has a great benefit as well because it is an active ingredient in medical products as it prevents bacterial growth and accelerates the healing process. Because of this, silver is a present ingredient in a number of antibiotics. In fact, a small amount of silver makes E. coli bacteria significantly more sensitive to commonly prescribed antibiotics like penicillin. Now, in viruses, when influenzas, bacteria like E. coli, superbugs like MRSA, or even coronaviruses land on copper, they begin to die within minutes and are undetectable within hours. Without these minerals, our medical industry would be severely lacking in the technologies it relies on to save lives.

References: https://mineralsmakelife.org/blog/minerals-and-metals-are-vital-for-the-medical-technologies-that-save-o/

https://nma.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Minerals-and-Medical-Applications-Fact-Sheet.pdf

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Civilization and Human Advancements Due to Mining

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Civilization and Human Advancements Due to Mining

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Bastian, Maria Kristine N.

Mining is one of the most critical industries in the world because it is the basis of human advancements. The usage of minerals as currency became the requirement for the operations towards the growth of civilization. Simple everyday items such as kitchenware came from mining, as well as early tools and weapons. Mined resources gave us this lifestyle we’re currently accustomed to and it will take us to the future. Could we have reached this level of modern society without mining? In an idealistic world, sure we can stop mining, or maybe mining doesn’t even exist in the first place. But realistically, in this day and age with our modern world, we need mining in order to keep up with our progression.

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A Brief History of Mining - Earth Systems

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Earth Systems occasionally receive inquiries about mining activities (the extraction of natural resources from the earth). It is essential to understand the history of mining to the modern life we enjoy today.

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Methods for reducing environmental damage and improving the utilized mining site. 

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Methods for reducing environmental damage and improving the utilized mining site. 

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Feleo Roneo Jr. R.
1. Low impact mining techniques

- Alternative low-impact mining techniques, like in-situ leaching. Mining companies can reduce their environmental impact.

2. Reusing mining waste

- Companies can use waste rocks in simple on-site construction, like backfilling voids and reconstructing mined terrain in a way that prevents soil erosion.

When adequately treated, mine water can be reused in just about any fashion — for agriculture, as coolant, in on-site dust suppression and for drinking water.

3. Eco friendly equipment

- Battery-driven mining equipment is often powerful enough to replace diesel-driven options. Replacing diesel engines with electric engines where possible can significantly reduce the amount of CO2 produced by mining operations.

4. Rehabilitating used mining sites

- Mine rehabilitation is the process of restoring a mining area to almost its pre-mining state, preparing this site for productive uses.

5. Shutting down illegal mining sites

-Preventing illegal or unregulated mining operations can help ensure that all mining is bound by the same environmental standards and ensure accountability.

- Reference: https://empoweringpumps.com/5-ways-to-make-mining-more-sustainable/

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Economic importance of mining to a country

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Economic importance of mining to a country

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Jun Paul Omamos
- Huge impact on economy of the country through:
- Jobs generated by mining. When jobs are generated in the area there will also be more economic activity that will occur resulting into increased tax revenue.
- Raw minerals have high economic value. Raw minerals alone have a high economic value, but when it is turned into processed minerals the value of it significantly increases. As an example, in the U.S. raw minerals is worth $82.3 billion, and after processing it with recycled minerals it is now worth $710 billion which increased the value of the raw minerals by 862.7%. Thus, it is very arguable that the raw minerals are among the best if not the best profit producing natural resources.
- Reliance of industries to minerals. A lot of industries like automotive, tech companies, infrastructures, etc. needs the processed minerals to be able to produce their products. And their products which cannot be made possible without the processed minerals are definitely a significant part of the GDP of a country. As an example interconnected to the first one, in the U.S. the fore mentioned industries generated approximately $3 trillion which is 14% of the U.S.' GDP for the year 2020.

All in all, it is irrefutable that the mining industry plays a big role in supporting the economy of a country, therefore if we stop mining the poverty rate will sky rocket in a short time span due to the inevitable fall of different industries and loss of tremendous amounts of jobs.

References:
https://mineralsmakelife.org/economic-growth/
https://environmental-conscience.com/mining-pros-cons/

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Bayot, Jannah Graziella O.

Raw materials for equipment, that are used daily, were provided by the mining industries. Termination of mining will cause the end of gadgets and other equipment due to little or no materials for manufacturing and its operation. Countries would also lose 25% of their electricity output, considering that one of the sources of electricity production is coal (fossil fuels), which is mined. If the mining is stopped, it will cause cessation of development, and we would not be able to maintain our current standard of living.

Reference:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/fes3.109

https://johnsonsearchgroup.com/2019/09/what-would-happen-if-the-world-stopped-mining/

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/coal/#:~:text=Coal%20seams%20exist%20on%20every,states%20and%20three%20major%20regions.

https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/electricity-in-the-us.php

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- Magtibay, Alexie Joy A.

Despite its small area, the Philippines is one of the world's richly endowed countries in terms of mineral resources. The Philippines is the fifth most mineral-rich country in the world for gold, nickel, copper, and chromite. It is home to the largest copper-gold deposit in the world. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has estimated that the country has an estimated $840 billion worth of untapped mineral wealth, as of 2012. The Philippines is very rich in minerals and it should be utilized.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2017/09/04/supplements/mining-industry-philippines/348610

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Minerals are natural substances -- usually comprising "inorganic element or compound, having an orderly internal structure and characteristics, chemical composition, crystal form, and physical properties" (NAMRIA-DENR, 1991). Any concentration of these minerals, with a potential economic value that can be extracted at a profit, is considered a mineral resource. Despite its small area, the Philippines is one of the world's richly endowed countries in terms of mineral resources. In 1994, the estimated levels of metallic and non-metallic mineral reserves stood at 7 billion metric tons and 50 billion metric tons, respectively. Copper accounted for the bulk of metallic mineral resources of about 72 percent; while nickel's share was estimated at 16 percent (Figure 1). Among the non-metallic minerals, limestone and marble accounted for about 39 and 29 percent, respectively (Figure 2). In terms of chromite resources, the Philippines is also one of the most endowed countries. In fact, the country's refractory chromite resource in Zambales is considered as one of the largest in the world.

The mining industry plays a very important role in the country's economic development. For one, the industry provides employment opportunities to a significant portion of the population, directly and indirectly. The launching of a mining project spurs local and regional economic development as mining firms invest in road infrastructure, utilities, and other facilities within the mine site. Mining, likewise, contributes to the country's foreign-exchange earnings through exports. Furthermore, the industry provides additional revenues for the government through taxes and fees paid on mining and other related activities. The mining activities involve operations that have significant impact on the environment. In most facets of the mining activities, there is always the potential for environmental and ecological problems -- from the construction of mining facilities, the extraction of ore, to the processing of minerals.

Mineral resources are non-renewable. Once extracted, the ore is gone and will take a very long time to replenish. Mining activity, therefore, is faced with the sustainability issue. Serious implications may arise if this issue is not properly addressed. While the construction of the asset account for the other natural resources is undoubtedly important, it is more crucial for the minerals because of the exhaustibility of these resources.

Gold

Gold reserves at the beginning of 1988 was estimated at 101.6 million metric tons (MT), equivalent to about 240 MT of gold metal. Between 1988 and 1994, a total of 27.7 million MT of gold ore, containing about 36 MT of metal was extracted. On the average, this is equivalent to an annual extraction of 3.9 million MT of gold ore.

Extraction of Gold Reserves in Ore Form
1988-1994
(in Million Metric Tons)

However, actual annual data show that the level of ore extraction dropped by a hefty 42.9 percent in 1990 and 25.7 percent in 1993 (Figure 1). The slight increase in the world metal price of gold in 1990 failed to raise the country's production. During this year, three major gold mines temporarily ceased operation, evidence of the then problems which besieged the domestic mining industry.

Copper

The reported stock of copper in ore form increased from 4,106 million MT in 1988 to 4,597 million MT in 1994 (Figure 2). However, copper reserves suffered a setback in 1990, when it declined by 7.2 percent from the previous year's level before resuming its increasing trend.

From 1988 to 1994, the extraction of copper ore registered a decreasing trend, with an annual average decline of 12.1 percent. The same trend was exhibited by the metal content which declined from 277,746 MT in 1988 to 130,910 MT in 1994. Copper mining companies slowed down in their production as lower prices of copper metal in the world market discouraged further expansion of activities.

Other factors which contributed to the low extraction for the years concerned included power shortages, closure of the Marcopper Mining Corporation in the second half of 1991, the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, and the unusual heavy rainfall. During the seven-year period, a total of 346 million MT of ore was extracted, with a metal content of 1.3 million MT.

Chromite

From 1988 to 1990 -- on the average -- most of the chromite-producing companies experienced a relative boom, as reflected by the increases in their extraction. For the said period, the total chromite ore extraction grew at an annual average of 30.1 percent, despite the earthquake that jolted Luzon island in July 1990.

However, starting 1991, a downtrend was experienced as a result of the volcanic eruption. This catastrophe deluged service roads with mudflows thus, affecting the transport of the output of one of the biggest chromite producers in that location. Power shortage and other geological factors affected the operations of most chromite mining companies in the succeeding years.

As a result of reduced extraction and positive other accumulation, the stock of total chromite ore reserves registered an annual average growth of 1.5 percent for the period 1988-1994. The corresponding metal content posted an average annual growth of 0.4 percent for the same period. In contrast with the physical asset accounts for which estimates were undertaken by type of chromite, the monetary asset account for chromite was estimated only on an aggregate basis.

Nickel

Beginning in 1991, the stock of ore reserves started to decline. In 1993, the nickel metal production tremendously dropped, the effect of the slowdown in the international demand for nickel, coupled with increased production in the earlier years, which dampened the market price of nickel metal.

Iron

Iron ore, one of the Philippines' largest mineral deposits, is not being extracted at present. This was due to the higher cost of production, making the local prices of iron not competitive to world prices. However, exploration for possible mining sites is still being done. In 1989, there was an addition of 10.1 million MT in total reserves. Several mining areas explored in 1992 were found positive with iron, resulting in a huge increase in ore reserves of 298.6 million MT, with a metal content of 124.0 million MT.

Manganese

During the period 1988 to 1994, manganese reserves in ore form registered an annual average growth of 2.7 percent -- from 1.4 million MT in 1988 to 1.6 million MT in 1994. The extraction of manganese ore exhibited fluctuations for the years in review. In 1992, exploration for more possible mining sites in several areas was conducted. This resulted to an increase of ore reserves by 203,014 MT, with a metal content of 87,843 MT at the end of the year, gross of extraction.

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Minerals are natural substances -- usually comprising "inorganic element or compound, having an orderly internal structure and characteristics, chemical composition, crystal form, and physical properties" (NAMRIA-DENR, 1991). Any concentration of these minerals, with a potential economic value that can be extracted at a profit, is considered a mineral resource.

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benefits of mining when it comes to the modernization of the world.

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benefits of mining when it comes to the modernization of the world.

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Lozada, Wayne Christian D.

mining actually has its various benefits when it comes to the present time. it helps us, humans, to give the fastest progress to both science and technology, and even gives the opportunity to any individual in terms of the resources that anyone may need in the world right now. mining may have various benefits, however let us focus on the resources we may have because of mining. examples are the different minerals such as energy minerals, metals, construction minerals, and also industrial minerals. these are beneficial to every one of us, especially to the modernization of the world. Mining is essential to the production of goods, services and infrastructure that improve the quality of our lives. As a developed society we are fortunate to enjoy the many benefits that lignite, uranium and industrial minerals help provide. These benefits include low-cost, reliable electricity and the materials necessary to build our homes, schools, hospitals, roads, highways, bridges and airports.

Also, according to Philippines Statistics Authority, the mining industry provides employment opportunities to a significant portion of the population, directly and indirectly. The launching of a mining project spurs local and regional economic development as mining firms invest in road infrastructure, utilities, and other facilities within the mine site. Mining, likewise, contributes to the country's foreign-exchange earnings through exports. Furthermore, the industry provides additional revenues for the government through taxes and fees paid on mining and other related activities.

references:
https://environmental-conscience.com/mining-pros-cons/
https://www2.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/mineralsYou/whatAre.html
https://psa.gov.ph/content/mineral-resources

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Assists underprivileged places in developing

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Assists underprivileged places in developing

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Name: Aure
-Provides plenty of job opportunities for the population while materials are used in infrastructure improving the quality of life thereby also giving the government higher tax revenue. This could be roads, hospitals, power plants, or anything that is necessary for our daily lives.

-Mining companies participate in scholarship programs that help the unprivileged finish education.

-There are countries whose economies are primarily from the mining industry. Like Nambia and South Africa.

-It provides us with our daily necessities. Majority of the electricity generation in the world is reliant on the mining industry

Reference: https://www.nap.edu/read/10318/chapter/4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQxK-5yJLzA

https://resourcegovernance.org/blog/proposals-mineral-dependent-countries-coronavirus-mining

https://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2009/09/19/506228/scholarship-grants-offered-mining-related-courses

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Mining industry contributes to the economy.

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Mining industry contributes to the economy.

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Penalba, Lannah Eloise H.

The mining industry plays a very important role in the country’s economic development. In the midst of the pandemic, the Philippine mining industry contributed ₱102.3 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), ₱25.52 billion from national and local taxes, fees, and royalties, and generated 184,000 jobs in 2020. It shows that it saved the Philippine economy during the pandemic. It shows that the mining industry is finally having an outcome after striving for years, and might increase after some years.

For the past decades, the mining industry has been striving, and we have experienced the negative effects and disadvantages of mining, but with our experience, we can take measures to mitigate the adverse effects. In addition to that, the DENR assures the public that they will continue to strictly monitor the operations of mining companies and strengthen the implementation of their safety and health, environmental and social development, and management programs.

REFERENCE: https://www.denr.gov.ph/index.php/news-events/press-releases/2935-denr-mgb-ph-mining-sector-contributes-102-3b-to-gdp-allots-379b-for-environmental-programs-in-2020

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Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Office (FASPO)

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Almost all our necessities partly comes from mines

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Almost all our necessities partly comes from mines

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Viñas, Cleyanne
The mining industry is a growing contributor to any country’s economy just like the Philippines. It generates job and at the same time, indirectly impacted positively to the development of stakeholder communities. It is just best to pursue its mining potential to its fullest content for the betterment of the national economy. In order to ensure environmental sustainability of all mining activities, we can adapt mining tools and indicators to ensure key mining risks are managed responsibly to meet society’s needs for minerals, metals, and energy products in the most socially, economically responsible way. This is a win-win situation where the people and the government both benefited. Minerals in the Philippines are generally used in everyday life such as construction, jewelry, wires, coins, electronic and many others and if we run out of these minerals, would you rather suggest that we import those while this country is rich in minerals?

All countries have mining industries of their own. It is a known fact that industrialized countries such  as USA, Japan, European nation sowed their prosperity due to the contributions of the mining industry. No skyscrapers, ships, railroads will exist without iron and other minerals from mines. Look around, almost all our necessities partly comes from mines.

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The Philippines' relatively small geographical area belies its potential for growth in mining and energy. Various sources, from the US State Department to different international publications, recognise its immense untapped mining potential, in particular. Based on the policy brief of the Philippine Senate Economic Planning Office, the country is said to contain approximately $840bn of untapped mineral wealth.

The mining industry is a growing contributor to the Philippine economy. Based on the mining industry statistics released by the Philippine Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the gross production value of the first quarter of 2018 - Php109.5bn - surpassed the gross production value of the entire previous year - Php108.6bn. In addition to its significant contribution to the economy, the mining industry also opens up a host of employment opportunities to its stakeholder-communities. As of 2016, at least 236,000 workers (excluding indirect jobs generated by upstream and downstream sectors) were employed in the mining industry. Indirectly, mining companies have also positively impacted the development of their stakeholder-communities. As of August 2016, approximately Php13.153bn has been allocated by mining companies for the development of their host and neighbouring communities through approved social development and management programmes.

Notwithstanding this, many factors continue to impede growth, primarily the issues of responsible or sustainable mining and the perceived negative environmental effects of mining.

The apparent lack of responsible mining practices and its negative environmental effects led then-president Benigno Aquino, Jr. to issue Executive Order No. 79 which, among other things, effectively increased the areas which are not open to mining and imposed a moratorium on the granting of new mining agreements. In 2016, the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) declared another moratorium, suspending the processing and approval of all pending exploration permits. President Rodrigo Duterte has, on several occasions, including his recent state of the nation address, expressed the view that the environment must be prioritised as far as the utilisation of mineral resources is concerned.

The negative perception of the effects of mining on the environment also resulted in the former DENR secretary, Regina Lopez, issuing Department Administrative Order No. 2017-10, which imposed a ban on open-pit mining. This issuance has been met with much criticism as it is arguably unconstitutional, since the administrative order is banning a method of extraction that is allowed by law. Further, the DENR secretary is only allowed to issue rules and orders for the regulation of the conservation, management, development and proper use of mineral resources, and does not have the power to prohibit what is allowed by law. In effect, the former secretary unduly amended the law through the administrative order, an act not within the power of a DENR secretary. In fact, the Philippine Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC), an inter-agency forum mandated to review all mining-related issuances, has recommended the lifting of the ban on open-pit mining, which was however denied by the president, who is now considering retaining the open-pit ban until 2019.

Nevertheless, recent developments have shown that the Philippine mining industry may have a greater opportunity to contribute to the country's economic progress. Recently, the DENR lifted the aforementioned 2016 moratorium on the processing and approval of pending exploration permits. According to the current secretary of the DENR, Roy Cimatu, this was in line with the administration's objectives of increasing market competitiveness, increasing the ease of doing business in the Philippines and attracting local and foreign direct investment.

The government has also begun to crack down on illegal small-scale mining by creating the National Task Force on Mining Challenge (NTFMC), which is tasked with the enforcement of mining and other environmental laws, rules and regulations. Since its formation, the NTFMC has closed a number of illegal small-scale mining operations and gold processing plants in surprise raids.

Further, in an effort to align with the government's continued focus on ensuring the environmental sustainability of all mining activities in the country, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, the country's association of large-scale miners, recently adopted the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative, spearheaded by the Mining Association of Canada, one of the global benchmarks in the extractive mineral industry. The TSM will provide the mining industry "tools and indicators to drive performance and ensure that key mining risks are managed responsibly [in order] to meet society's needs for minerals, metals and energy products in the most socially, economically and environmentally responsible way".

Hopefully, the ongoing developments will address the issues plaguing the Philippine mining industry and allow the Philippines to continue pursuing its mining potential to the fullest extent, for the betterment of the national economy and with little to no adverse effect on the environment.

Similar to the mining industry, the Philippine energy sector is now moving toward environmental sustainability by favouring policies and drivers that lead to clean and sustainable energy. While coal is still the leading source of energy in the country, renewable energy sources provide close to a third of its energy mix.

The Philippines' push toward sustainable energy gained impetus with the passage of the Republic Act No. 9513, otherwise known as the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, which includes income tax holidays and other incentives. This increased the number of investments in renewable energy projects considerably. Since the passage of the law, up to 2016, the number of renewable energy projects already built or being constructed rose from 22 to 406. As an added incentive for prospective investors in renewable energy, the Philippines also established a feed-in-tariff (FIT) programme which essentially operates as a government-provided subsidy for renewable energy generators. The FIT subsidy is, however, passed on to, and ultimately shouldered by, the consumers. Growing concerns regarding the FIT being passed on have led to discussions on possibly reducing the amount to be subsidised through the FIT programme due to how high it raises electricity prices for consumers. Further, in 2017, the Philippine Department of Energy instituted the Green Energy Option Programme, which seeks to empower energy consumers by allowing them to choose renewable energy as their energy source. In addition, the establishment of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market provides a venue which allows for trading electricity as a commodity.

Nevertheless, despite its passage a decade ago, the Renewable Energy Act has still not been fully implemented. Significantly, the Renewable Energy Market, a market which allows the trading of energy from renewable sources, has not yet been constituted. In addition, the Renewable Energy Trust Fund, a special account in government financial institutions that shall be exclusively used to finance the research, development and promotion of renewable energy systems and resources, is yet to be established as well.

The growth of the Philippine mining and energy sectors may be hampered, however, by possible legislative developments.

For the energy sector, the possible enactment of the second package of the current government's tax reform programme, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act, seeks the removal or reduction of a number of incentives for renewable energy that were established by the Renewable Energy Act.

For the mining sector, a pending bill seeks to require a legislative franchise as a prerequisite to mining operations, among others. There is also a possibility that the 'Package 2 Plus' of the TRAIN Act may introduce a comprehensive mining tax, depending on the result of the consultations with the MICC. Further, following the recent increase in the excise tax on mineral products from 2 percent to 4 percent, there have also been proposals to implement a revenue-sharing scheme for mineral production sharing agreements (MPSA). Currently, MPSAs are only subject to an excise tax and royalties if the mine is located in a mineral reservation, with revenue sharing limited to financial or technical assistance agreements (FTAA). If implemented, this will result in effectively treating MPSAs as similar to FTAAs. Under the Philippine constitution and its relevant nationalisation laws, MPSAs may only be granted to corporations with a maximum foreign ownership of 40 percent, while FTAAs may be granted to 100 percent foreign-owned corporations.

While both industries face significant roadblocks which may prevent them from thriving, their potential in the Philippines cannot be discounted. Significant developments continue to spur their growth and provide exciting, albeit challenging, opportunities.
Patricia A. O. Bunye is a senior partner at Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia. She can be contacted on +632 810 5858 or by email: po.bunye@cruzmarcelo.com. © Financier Worldwide

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Current trends in the Philippine mining and energy sectors - Financier Worldwide

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The Philippines' relatively small geographical area belies its potential for growth in mining and energy. Various sources, from the US State Department to different international publications, recognise its immense untapped mining potential, in particular. Based on the policy brief of the Philippine Senate Economic Planning Office, the country is said to contain approximately $840bn of untapped mineral wealth.

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Improves lives economically and allows exploration of raw material sources

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Improves lives economically and allows exploration of raw material sources

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Parian, Nico
Attending online class, right? What do you use? Any gadget you use such as a smartphone, laptop, tablet, anything you use to consume media and information in the internet, and doing household activities with appliances. Everything that we use today was made possible all of because of mining. The components  that are comprised inside our devices come from the metals that were mined. Even sand is also used in chips as it is a semiconductor.  After watching the video that discusses about the Philippine mining industry that Ma'am sent, I'm positive now that the ways of mining  will at least minimize the effects of the land in the mountains and to avoid more environmental casualties.  Not only does mining helps tech industries keep up with the demand of  electronics, but also improve the lives of working communities economically.

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This chapter explores how different technology trends are impacting the mining sector. Although in many cases the uptake of these technologies is driven by the potential to improve efficiency and competitiveness, they also help reduce the environmental impact of mining activities. Most of these technologies also have application beyond mining and can support linkage development to other sectors of the economy. Topics addressed include automation, remote control, electrification, renewable energy, digitalisation and remote sensing, with specific attention to both environmental and economic benefits. The impact of economic shifts towards electric vehicles, renewable energy and continuing economic digitalisation on metal demand is also discussed.

Over thousands of years, the fundamental purpose of mining has remained the same: removing metals and minerals from the ground and separating those that are desirable from waste. A miner from 3 000 years ago would recognise the basic fact of digging into the ground to find the Earth's riches. However, both the scale of mine sites and the technology used have changed dramatically. At the same time, new technological and economic developments also determine what metals are in greatest demand, helping to shape the industry. Understanding the potential impact of new technologies is vital in moving to a more sustainable paradigm of mining.

For most of humanity's history, mining technology focused on maximising outputs of mined material and minimising the cost for doing so. This single-minded approach helped fuel economic growth and provide the raw materials needed to build new things. It also resulted in significant environmental contamination, often severely damaging ecosystems. It also led to large-scale remaking of the environment. Massive open pit mines and enormous dams reconfigured hydrological systems and not infrequently failed, sending toxic water back into the ecosystem. Considering that environmental impacts from mining operations from two millennia ago are still detectable today (Pyatt et al., 2000[30]), the industry must continue to focus on environmental issues.

Globally, over the past two decades, increased scrutiny of environmental and social issues has led major mining companies to adopt sustainability plans (Jenkins and Yakovleva, 2006[31]). At the same time, new technology trends and economic developments are shaping the future of mining. The prolonged rise in prices for minerals and metals during the commodities super cycle fuelled mining company expansion; when prices crashed in 2014, companies were forced to adopt a greater focus on increasing efficiency and bringing down cost margins.

In the Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) region, this pressure is acute. The centrally planned economy of the Soviet era focused on production and had little functional environmental oversight. As a result, countries in the region were particularly exposed to negative environmental impacts of mining. Once closed, mines were often simply abandoned with no efforts to remediate the environmental damage. This left a hazard for people living in the area, as well as for the larger environment. Countries in the region are faced with both the ongoing legacy of environmentally damaging mining practices from the Soviet era as well as the challenges of developing a modern approach to the mining sector that can minimise environmental and health impacts, while maximising social and economic benefits.

Greening the mining sector in the region is an opportunity to introduce innovative, environmentally sensitive practices that can positively affect other related areas of the economy. For countries with large mining sectors, this is vital. Even for countries where the mining sector is less dominant, a greener approach to mining provides a channel to introduce clean technology.

copy the link link copied! 2.2. How technology is affecting mining operations

Mines have long lives. They depend on reliability and predictability, both for production and for ensuring the health and safety of workers. Consequently, mines have traditionally been conservative in deploying new technology.

Several factors are opening the sector to adoption of new technologies. From approximately 2003 until 2011, sustained high prices driven by demand from emerging economic powers, including the People's Republic of China, led to a rapid expansion in operating and planned mines. The decline of demand, first in 2008 and finally in 2011 caused a renewed focus on efficient and lean operations. This decline was compounded by a general trend across the mining sector: as the richest and most easily accessible deposits have been mined, industry is increasingly going after lower ore concentration deposits and/or lower depth deposits.

At the same time, mining companies have faced demands for better environmental performance and transparency to earn the social licence to operate. Resource companies have also begun to look at how to improve efficiency. Increasingly, they want to position the mining sector as a modern and forward-looking part of the transition to a more sustainable economy. The technologies discussed in this section explore these issues.

2.2.1. Automation

One of the most important trends in the mining sector is automation. The drivers for this trend are not primarily environmental, but instead productivity, health and safety. Mining is a dirty and often dangerous business. The use of automated mining trucks and rigs means that fewer workers need to be directly exposed to minerals. At the same time, automation allows mines to function around the clock and maximise their use of inputs (NRCan, 2016[32]). As another advantage, automation can sometimes be retrofitted onto existing equipment rather than requiring an entirely new investment. To date, major multinational mining companies like Rio Tinto have used particular mines as test cases for "mines of the future". However, as more manufacturers get on board the technology is becoming more accessible.

Automated machinery follows stricter protocols than human operation, reducing unnecessary use. Theoretically, this approach prolongs machine life, reduces operational emissions and uses inputs more efficiently. Automation takes a number of forms, with potential benefits that go beyond productivity to reduce environmental impact:

Autonomous trucks: trucks with this technology rely on global positioning systems, lidar and sensor systems embedded in the mine structure to help navigate. They can operate almost continuously, aside from breaks for refuelling and maintenance. They benefit from a longer lifespan, reduced fuel use and fewer maintenance costs (Nebot, n.d.[33]). At Brucutu mine in Brazil, Vale estimates that vehicle lifespan will increase by 15% and fuel consumption and maintenance costs will decrease by 10%. This will result in a lower carbon footprint (Vale, 2018[34]).

Automated drilling and tunnel-boring systems: automating drilling and tunnel boring have safety benefits. They remove humans from a potentially dangerous position due to hazards such as rockfall, gas outbursts and high temperatures underground. They also have environmental benefits. Linked with advanced sensing technology, automated drilling and boring systems can more precisely target ore deposits underground. In this way, they reduce wasted drilling time and maximise outputs (Ranjith et al., 2017[35]).

Automated site monitoring: automation and remote sensing can potentially benefit environmental performance by ensuring that issues are caught before they become significant, or before they occur at all. Potential issues include weakening of separation barriers for tailings areas, as well as levels of emissions from mining and beneficiation itself (Wang, Yang and He, 2018[36]).

Automated ventilation systems at underground mining sites: a major cost of underground mines is ventilation systems to the surface. This is vital to clear diesel fumes, gases and smoke from blasting, to control temperatures and to ensure safety of mine operations. Automated ventilation systems do not operate continuously. Instead, they rely on a network of sensors to move air to where it is needed at any given time. This saves up to 40% of energy (NRCan, 2016[37]).

Autonomous long-distance trains: mines are often located far from ports, population centres and industry. Transporting ore can be expensive, carbon- intensive and potentially hazardous. To alleviate costs and increase efficiency, Rio Tinto is automating its train systems in Australia's Pilbara region. The inaugural fully automated trip took place in July 2018. Automation provides more consistent speeds with less braking and accelerating. It leads to better co-ordination between trains on the tracks and eliminates the potential for driver fatigue (Rio Tinto, 2018[38]). However, most mines do not have dedicated rail systems. Such a system makes sense for Rio Tinto due to the scale of its Pilbara mining operations and the distance to port.

Automation has impacts beyond productivity gains and a reduced environmental footprint. In many cases, it will change the employment structure, reducing opportunities for local, low-skilled jobs. While remote monitoring will create some new jobs, these positions will require a higher level of skills. Even maintenance on automated vehicles will require new training and qualifications (Cosbey et al., 2016[39]). At the same time, companies are building mines in increasingly remote locations, often with low or non-existent local populations. Increasing use of automation and remote control, requiring less direct employment, will reduce the need for large numbers of individuals to live around a mine. This will also reduce its environmental footprint (Nebot, n.d.[40]).

2.2.2. Electrification

Fossil fuel use at mining sites is a significant operational cost and source of both local particulate matter and air pollution, as well as the release of GHGs. At off-grid mining sites, diesel generators are normally used to power equipment. Shipping in fuel is expensive and carbon-intensive. At mining operations connected to electricity grids, large trucks and mining rigs generally run on diesel, releasing substantial emissions.

Mining equipment manufacturers and mining companies are increasingly experimenting with hybrid diesel/electric or full electric versions of mining trucks and machinery. The benefits of electrification are even more substantial in underground mines, where exhaust fumes pose a health and safety hazard and must be continuously ventilated. Relying on electric vehicles and machinery reduces the need for that ventilation.

Beyond electrification of vehicles, electric equipment at underground mines can also reduce ventilation and yield significant benefits. Electric motors have significantly fewer parts than internal combustion motors, require less maintenance, do not create emissions and are much quieter. However, the upfront cost can be significant. Furthermore, to benefit fully, mines need to be designed with electrification.

2.2.3. Renewable energy

Renewable energy is increasingly a viable option for off-grid sites, particularly through hybrid diesel-renewable energy systems. Commercial-scale solutions are still needed for battery technology to provide the stable supply required for purely renewable energy. However, diesel systems - mated with solar or wind - reduce emissions and the cost of trucking in diesel fuel to remote locations. Renewable/diesel hybrid systems have been deployed successfully in different contexts, including Canada and Australia. However, they have benefited from government support for their development.

2.2.4. Digitalisation

Advances in digital technology have drastically changed the quality and quantity of data that mining companies can access. This, in turn, supports the deployment of automation. Exploration companies can now rely on a range of different technologies to show them what is underneath the surface, to sample and to decide whether to develop a mine.

Exploration: using remote sensing tools such as unmanned aerial vehicles and satellites can substantially reduce the ecological footprint of mining operations (European Commission, 2018[42]).

Site operation: networked sensors, machinery and devices, combined with imagery data from satellites and other sources, have provided mine operators with unprecedented data. Widespread use of sensor technology ensures that mining operations are better aware of what is happening, and where. This includes monitoring emissions, tracking water and air quality, and minimising energy use.

Environmental impact: remote sensing technology, including drones, holds significant benefits for ensuring good environmental outcomes following the closure of a mining site. Tailings and waste rock sites can remain toxic for decades or even centuries after a mine closure. Companies must monitor and respond to releases as quickly as possible. This is especially the case in remote locations that make in-person examination difficult. Remote sensing allows for ecosystem monitoring of land and water impacts (Charou et al., 2010[43]).

Through the use of digital sensors, mining companies have vastly more data at their fingertips than ever before. This trove of data also enables and supports automation.

copy the link link copied! 2.3. How new technology is driving demand for different minerals

As recently as a decade ago, many analysts were writing about "peak oil". They believed that in a time of rising prices and spiralling global demand, the world was set to run out of fossil fuels. Instead, accelerating developments in renewable energy and electrical vehicles (EVs) have shifted projections for the demand of raw materials. Some metals, such as copper, have always been important economically. Considering that a single EV can require upwards 180 kilograms of copper, the mineral will only become more important. This same demand pattern then extends to renewable energy installations. Wind turbines, in particular, require significant amounts of copper. Broadly, anything electronic will continue to require substantial amounts of copper. As the world shifts from a fossil fuel-based economy, this will become ever more important. The same trends are also driving mining companies' interest in lithium - an essential ingredient in contemporary battery technology (MGI, 2017[44]).

Over time, demands for certain minerals may shift again. Already, some researchers argue that lithium-ion batteries have limited capacity to be scaled up. They believe a different technology will be needed to change renewable power generation into baseload generation. To improve environmental performance, the mining sector must be agnostic when it comes to the specific material being mined. Rare earth minerals and cobalt, key ingredients for many high-tech devices, renewable energy generation, and energy storage, are often mined in ways fraught with environmental consequences. As such, many of the most important supplying mines are in countries with more permissive environmental regimes (MGI, 2017[44]). While government policies do not determine what minerals become in demand, policies must be flexible enough to respond to new technological developments.

References

[14] Charou, E. et al. (2010), "Using remote sensing to assess impact of mining activities on land and water resources", Mine Water and the Environment, Vol. 29/1, pp. 45-52, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1007/s10230-010-0098-0.

[10] Cosbey, A. et al. (2016), Mining a Mirage? Reassessing the Shared-value Paradigm in Light of the Technological Advances in the Mining Sector, International Institute for Sustainable Development, Winnipeg, https://www.iisd.org/sites/default/files/publications/mining-a-mirage.pdf.

[13] European Commission (2018), New EXploration Technologies, (database), European Commission, Brussels, https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/eip-raw-materials/en/content/new-exploration-technologies.

[2] Jenkins, H. and N. Yakovleva (2006), "Corporate social responsibility in the mining industry: Exploring trends in social and environmental disclosure", Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 14/3-4, pp. 271-284, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.jclepro.2004.10.004.

[15] MGI (2017), Beyond the Supercycle: How Technology is Reshaping Resources, McKinsey Global Institute, New York.

[4] Nebot, E. (n.d.), "Surface mining: Main research issues for autonomous operations", in Springer Tracts in Advanced Robotics, Robotics Research, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1007/978-3-540-48113-3_24.

[11] Nebot, E. (n.d.), "Surface Mining: Main Research Issues for Autonomous Operations", in Springer Tracts in Advanced Robotics, Robotics Research, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1007/978-3-540-48113-3_24.

[8] NRCan (2016), "Automating for Energy Efficiency Underground", webpage, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mining-materials/green-mining/18292.

[3] NRCan (2016), "Improving Automation and Equipment", webpage, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mining-materials/green-mining/18278.

[1] Pyatt, F. et al. (2000), "An imperial legacy? An exploration of the environmental impact of ancient metal mining and smelting in southern Jordan", Journal of Archaeological Science, Vol. 27/9, pp. 771-778, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1006/jasc.1999.0580.

[6] Ranjith, P. et al. (2017), "Opportunities and challenges in deep mining: A brief review", Engineering, Vol. 3/4, pp. 546-551, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.eng.2017.04.024.

[9] Rio Tinto (2018), "Rio Tinto achieves first delivery of iron ore with world's largest robot", Press Release, 13 July, Rio Tinto, Melbourne, https://www.riotinto.com/media/media-releases-237_25824.aspx.

[12] Taylor, S. and B. Lewis (2018), "First new all-electric mine dumps diesel; cuts costs, pollution", Reuters, 21 June, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mining-electric-goldcorp/first-new-all-electric-mine-dumps-diesel-cuts-costs-pollution-idUSKBN1JH2FI.

[5] Vale (2018), "Vale will have the first mine operating only with autonomous trucks in Brazil", webpage, Vale, Rio de Janeiro, http://www.vale.com/en/aboutvale/news/pages/vale-tera-a-primeira-mina-operando-somente-com-caminhoes-autonomos-no-brasil.aspx.

[7] Wang, L., X. Yang and M. He (2018), "Research on safety monitoring system of tailings dam based on Internet of Things", IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, Vol. 322, p. 052007, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1088/1757-899x/322/5/052007.

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https://doi.org/10.1787/1926a45a-en

2. The impact of technology on sustainability in the mining sector

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This chapter explores how different technology trends are impacting the mining sector. Although in many cases the uptake of these technologies is driven by the potential to improve efficiency and competitiveness, they also help reduce the environmental impact of mining activities.