A BITTER dispute between two firms over the ownership of several lucrative nickel mines in Palawan is nearing a resolution, with production and shipment of the commodity set to begin in the coming months, according to the head of Oriental Peninsula Resources Group.

In a statement, Oriental Peninsula chairperson and president Caroline Tanchay said their subsidiary, Citinickel Mines and Development Corp., was close to sealing a compromise with its rival, Platinum Metals Group Corp. (PGMC), with regard to the Pulot and Toronto nickel mines on the island.

?Barring any last minute hitches, we are close to settling the Citinickel row, which will allow us to finally start operating our world-class nickel mines in Pulot and Toronto as early as July,? Tanchay said. ?If this finally pushes through, we forecast that we can make our first ore shipment by the fourth quarter of this year.?

Citinickel contended that its predecessor, Olympic Mines and Development Corp., had cancelled PGMC?s operating contract due to alleged environmental violations.