Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
France 24
France 24
Politics
Nejma BENTRAD

Philippines: Locals and activists campaign against booming nickel industry

FOCUS © FRANCE 24

The nickel ore extraction industry is booming in the Philippines, be it on the islands of Sibuyan, Palawan or Luzon. Nickel is mainly known for its use in stainless steel, but is also used for the production of lithium batteries for solar panels and electric vehicles. The metal is therefore a key component of the energy transition.

The Philippines is home to more than half the world's nickel reserves and is the world's second-largest producer of the metal. So far, the archipelago exploits less than 5 percent of its nickel reserves, but the government is on a quest to identify new mining zones by 2024.

Yet this industry comes at a huge cost to the environment. Local populations and environmental activists are trying to prevent deforestation and water contamination associated with nickel mining. FRANCE 24's Nejma Bentrad and Nabeel Ahmed report.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.