Canada’s TVI Pacific Inc announced that its Philippine operating affiliate has completed this month its 25th shipment of copper concentrate from the Canatuan mine.

TVI Pacific said that affiliate TVI Resource Development Inc has completed the shipment of some 4,699 DMT of concentrate worth USD 12 million. Another 1,762 DMT of copper concentrate remains in inventory and is scheduled to be shipped out. The shipment which contains 23.2% copper, left the port of Santa Maria in Zamboanga del Norte in accordance with the off take arrangement between TVIRD and MRI Trading AG.

Mr Ron Jabal TVIRD director for public affairs said that the shipment shows that it is business as usual at the Canatuan mine despite the recent passage of the Zamboanga del Norte provincial ordinance banning open pit mining. Copper production remains steady at the Canatuan mine, achieving copper concentrate grade levels between 23% and 25%. The company expects to ship zinc and copper concentrates before yearend.

TVI Pacific filed a petition before the Dipolog City Regional Trial Court seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the implementation of provincial ban on open pit mining. Besides TVIRD, which operates a copper-zinc mine is Siocon town the new ordinance will derail Philex Gold Philippines Inc which plans to revive its gold project in Sibutad municipality.

(Sourced from www.manilatimes.net)