Long-delayed Tampakan mines may begin operations by Q4

The Tampakan mining project, one of the largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits worldwide, is scheduled to commence operations in South Cotabato by the fourth quarter of this year.

Its operator, Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI), said in a statement that it already started preconstruction activities such as land acquisition and the building of access roads.

Just recently, SMI secured its 2023 business permit from the municipality of Tampakan after paying P24,579 in regulatory and other fees. The came as it hurdled a legal battle when the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) halted the collection of almost P400 million in taxes from the firm.

SMI also said the provincial board of South Cotabato declared as ultra vires (beyond the powers) and onerous several provisions of Tampakan’s Revised Municipal Revenue Code of 2022.

This would have imposed new or increased business taxes on companies operating in Tampakan. The local government unit was likewise cautioned “to stop the enforcement of the provisions of the ordinance declared invalid.”

SMI legal and compliance manager Stella Joy Segocio said the decision meant the firm did not employ “fraud and misrepresentation” when applying for a business permit.