The Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) urged the government to accelerate mining permit efficiencies as Indonesia’s upcoming 2026 quota decisions highlight the global need for a more diversified critical minerals supply chain.
PNIA president Dante Bravo said that global nickel supply cannot responsibly rely on a single country’s policy calendar. He emphasized that the Philippines—which holds the world’s sixth-largest nickel reserves and produced 67 million wet metric tons of ore in 2025—is uniquely positioned as a consistent, long-term alternative supplier.
Rather than competing directly, PNIA is positioning the Philippines as a strategic partner to Indonesia to strengthen ASEAN’s broader role in the energy transition. The group recently signed a cooperation agreement with the Asosiasi Penambang Nikel Indonesia to deepen regional collaboration in responsible mining and technology.
To fully capitalize on the global shift toward diversified sourcing, PNIA emphasized the need for greater regulatory predictability to attract high-value downstream processing investments. The association is also eyeing expanded market opportunities through ongoing free trade agreement negotiations between ASEAN, the Philippines, and Canada
