Philippine province lifts open-pit mining ban, paves way for Tampakan project: official

Tribal communities within the Tampakan project area of Sagittarius Mines Inc. in South Cotabato, as seen in this photo taken on Jan16, 2020, have consented to the opening of the mining project. — BONG S. SARMIENTO

COTABATO, Philippines (AFP): A Philippine provincial government has lifted a ban on open-pit mining, removing the final regulatory obstacle for a long-delayed copper and gold project in the country's restive south, a senior official said Monday (May 16).

The Tampakan project on Mindanao island has been described by its developer Sagittarius Mines as "one of the largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits in the world."