PHILIPPINES September 27 2016 2:16 PM
MANILA (Scrap Register): The Philippines environmental regulator has ordered the suspension of another 20 mines for environmental violations, most of them nickel producers, providing a boost for nickel-related equities in the region.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources announced on Tuesday that 20 out of 29 mines it had audited should be suspended, in addition to seven mines suspended prior to the audit, according to statements published via its official Twitter account.
The suspended mines account for 55.5% of nickel ore output in the Philippines based on last year's production.
The Philippines was the largest global producer of mined nickel in 2015 accounting for 22% of global output and 97% of total ore imported in China.