ABORLAN, Palawan (September 3, 2026) — DMCI Mining Inc. expects its Long Point nickel project in this coastal town of Palawan to become a major revenue driver as production builds up at a mineral resource far larger and potentially richer than its recently decommissioned Berong Nickel Mine.
Long Point began commercial operations late last year and completed its first two shipments of nickel and iron ore that total 100,000 wet metric tons (WMT) before the end of 2025.
DMCI Mining Vice President for Operations Ramon Briones said production could reach 1.3 million WMT this year, depending largely on market demand and weather conditions. The volume is roughly equivalent to the 1 million dry metric tons of annual production allowed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Weather remains a significant factor in the mine’s operations. Shipments to China and Indonesia are generally limited to about six months of the year, when conditions in the West Philippine Sea are calmer and squalls pose less risk to bulk carriers and their cargoes.
Still, the company expects Long Point’s contribution to increase sharply as operations mature.
Based on royalty projections presented by DMCI Mining during a briefing here, Long Point could generate around P1.5 billion in revenue this year, rising to P3.1 billion in 2027 and P6.8 billion in 2028. The projections were derived from estimated royalties equivalent to 1 percent of annual revenue.
The mine’s scale is a major part of that growth story.
Long Point covers more than 2,100 hectares, making it more than nine times larger than the 288-hectare Berong Nickel Mine, which ceased operations in 2022 and is now undergoing rehabilitation.
DMCI Mining President Tulsi Das Reyes said Long Point also holds advantages beyond its size.
The mineral reserve is thicker, averaging about eight meters compared with roughly six meters at Berong, and contains higher-grade nickel, potentially allowing the company to generate better returns from each shipment.
Long Point’s location also offers a logistical advantage, with direct access to the West Philippine Sea that could help lower transportation costs.
The combination of a larger resource, thicker ore deposits, higher nickel grades, and shorter logistics routes gives Long Point a stronger commercial profile than Berong, Reyes said.
For DMCI Mining, however, realizing that potential will depend on factors beyond the mine itself. Nickel demand, global prices, weather windows, and shipping conditions will determine how quickly production can be expanded and how much of the project’s projected revenue can ultimately be captured.
If operations progress as planned, Long Point could provide DMCI Mining with a substantially larger production base in Palawan just as Berong moves into the final stages of its post-mining rehabilitation.
