Publicly-listed Davao de Oro-based, Enrique Razon-led Apex Mining has intensified its drive to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix through an agreement with Lopez-led First Gen Corporation.
Prior to the deal, 59% of Apex Mining’s mine operations had been powered by clean energy.
Now, as First Gen’s first Directly-Connected Customer (DCC) in the region, Apex has the opportunity to further strengthen its ethical responsibility by sourcing energy from First Gen’s Mt. Apo Geothermal Power Plant in Kidapawan, Cotabato.
This will allow the company to have uninterrupted, reliable energy for its daily mining operations with a much lower carbon footprint and a higher degree of corporate and ethical responsibility.
“This is going beyond mere compliance in our energy management practices,” said Apex President and CEO Luis R. Sarmiento, ASEAN Eng.
Apex Mining’s move coincides with the emerging worldwide trend of evaluating mining companies based on their sustainability and energy sourcing practices. Such investor-encouraged practices are also common for supply chains driven by companies rated on their performance on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria.
“Tapping into renewable energy resources is an effective way to manage our environmental impact. We are happy to work with First Gen in our sustainability journey,” Sarmiento added.
Epitome of responsible mining
Apex Mining has been exemplary in its initiatives in environment management and in sustainability. For the first three quarters of 2023 alone, the mining company poured in roughly P89 M in its Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP). The EPEP is a comprehensive plan of action required by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to ensure the responsible management of all land, water, and air resources that are covered by the operations of a mining company.
Ensuring that all the necessary permits are facilitated and secured via proper processes set by DENR and other regulatory agencies is among the backbones of Apex Mining’s commitment to responsible mining. Moreover, with “malasakit” as its core value, the company ensures that it surpasses the high standards it sets for itself in terms of sustainability and caring for the environment.
A Green and Good partner
Apex Mining does not limit its green energy initiatives to power sourcing; a number of its energy conservation moves are rooted in the daily operations of its site. The company has an energy conservation czar and energy conservation coordinators in each department tasked to develop action plans to optimize energy cost. Included in its roster of energy-saving programs are the turning-off of lights, computers, and air-conditioning units when these are not in use and powering generator sets only during unexpected outages and scheduled repairs by the power suppliers.
Apex Mining picked the right partner in First Gen, which, eight years ago, stopped its coal-fired power plants because of its decarbonization mission. First Gen’s Vice President for Power Marketing, Trade and Economics, Carlo Vega, earlier remarked that they choose to work with companies who share the same vision of a lower carbon footprint through renewable energy. One such long-term partner, Vega said, is Apex Mining.
