MANILA : The head of the Philippine nickel mining industry warned on Tuesday that the government's plan to impose an up to 10 per cent tax on nickel ore exports could force local producers to close up shop.
"We need to be heard so the government will understand our side," said Bravo, who is also the president of miner Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. Bloomberg News on Monday quoted Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, whose department also oversees the mining sector, as saying"there's a range of actions including a progressive look at taxing exports" of raw nickel.
But, Bravo said, a comparison to Indonesia is flawed because it has more reserves to support investments in local mineral processing.