Carmen Copper marks 450th concentrate shipment

TOLEDO CITY, Philippines — Cebu-based mining company Carmen Copper Corporation has consistently made value for its stakeholders and communities through its economic contributions and socio-economic initiatives under its Social Development and Management Program.

Despite challenges in the past years, the company has not wavered in its commitment to advance sustainable development for its stakeholders, business partners, employees, and communities.

On January 31, 2024, Carmen Copper celebrated its 450th milestone shipment of copper concentrate with the following activities: commemorative tree-planting; feeding program, and distribution of hygiene kits and rice to the community; a thanksgiving mass; and a human mosaic at Sangi Port, Toledo City.

The celebration also marked Carmen Copper’s thanksgiving to the Señor Sto. Niño for the manifold blessings the mining firm has received in its nearly 20 years of operations amid the countless obstacles it had to hurdle.

Tree-planting

The first part of the morning activity was the commemorative tree-planting at Sangi Port. This was participated in by Carmen Copper executives, employees and scholars. The mining company’s industry partner, Werco Trade, and officials of host-barangay Daanlungsod also joined the event.

Participants planted seedlings of Molave that will cover a portion of the company-operated port.

In addition to their longevity and resistance to decay, molave trees are highly prized for their usage in construction projects. Examples of these projects include shipbuilding, railway sleepers, flooring, and furniture production.

Community activity

The second part of the morning celebration is the community activity held at the covered court of Barangay Daanlungsod.

More than 100 preschoolers and their parents gathered at the venue for the feeding program, and distribution of hygiene kits and baskets of fruits and vegetables.

The parents also received packets of vegetable seedlings as part of Carmen Copper’s thrust to promote food security through sustainability.

Carmen Copper scholars also entertained kids with Cebuano-Visayan short stories with moral lessons.

Meanwhile, some 100 barangay officials and workers each received five kilos of rice.

This was Carmen Copper’s testament of gratitude to the community for their continued support to the company’s initiatives geared towards responsible stewardship.

“We are thankful to Carmen Copper for making us part of their milestones and for being our partner in community development,” said Daanlungsod barangay captain Jose Letrago in Cebuano.

Thanksgiving

A Thanksgiving Mass was also offered in honor of the Señor Sto. Niño after the commemorative human mosaic formation.

The mass was con-celebrated by Fr. Willy Castillo, Assistant Priest of St. John Sahagon Shrine, and Fr. Jose Rene De La Llarte and Fr. Elizer Pelingo of the Order of St. Augustine Province of Sto. Niño de Cebu.

In his homily, Castillo said while reaching the 450th shipment of copper concentrate may be the fruit of the collective efforts of the company’s employees, it would not be possible without spiritual guidance.

This was echoed by Carmen Copper Chief Operating Officer Yulo Perez in his welcome address.

According to Perez, aside from the merriment, the more than 2,700 employees of the company must celebrate spiritual thanksgiving as well.

He added that statistics show an estimated more than 900 shipments of copper concentrate in the next 10 years or so. This would mean opportunities for sustainable growth for communities, stakeholders and families.

“We have so much reserve and resource still there in the mine site waiting for us. However, we also need to work together in order to reach many more milestones for the generations to come. Most importantly, let us not forget to thank the Lord for the blessings despite all the challenges we have encountered and may continue to face,” Perez said.

The celebration capped off with a Sinulog dance offering in honor of the Señor Sto. Niño presented by employees of Carmen Copper and a scrumptious dinner in Barrio Fiesta style.

Carmen Copper, a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation, has been delivering copper concentrate to smelters in China, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Korea and India for 16 years already since its first shipment on December 29, 2008.

The Department of Trade and Industry has identified the copper industry as one of its priority five investment sectors, along with electronics, IT and business process management, automotive, and aerospace. Carmen Copper is the top producer of copper concentrate in the country.

Carmen Copper’s mines provide two of the most essential materials for the green transition: copper and gold.

Copper, one of the metals with the highest electrical and thermal conductivity, is a crucial metal in the transition away from fossil fuels.

As renewable energy assets are created, copper is necessary to connect wind turbines, solar cells and energy networks over wide areas. It is an important component in batteries for electric vehicles, motors and charging equipment.

As an important metal in the green transition, Carmen Copper recognizes its role in making sure that it produces the cleanest and quality copper in the most responsible way.