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Mining firms in the Philippines and Indonesia are facing increased exposure from an impending crackdown on environmental compliance. Both countries have poor records for enforcing environmental regulations, leading to tensions between communities and the mining sector, which the leaders of both countries have pledged to address. In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte has issued a sweeping review of all mining contracts for environmental and communal impact and has already suspended six contracts for compliance violations since he took office on 30 June. Although Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo has been less confrontational in his rhetoric and some reforms under his presidency have improved the operating prospects for international miners, the transfer of mining oversight from local to provincial authorities in October 2016 will complicate already established bureaucratic procedures and could increase the risk of penalties by activist provincial governors.
The Philippines
Duterte’s plans to review mining contracts that are causing environmental damage will further undermine investment in a sector that has long struggled to meet its full potential. Decades of environmental scandals, incoherent or inhibitive regulations, poor infrastructure, and security concerns have deterred mining investment in the Philippines, where only 3 percent of the country’s estimated 9 mn hectares of mineral reserves are under development. The mining sector represents just 1 percent of GDP, and investment in mining dropped to a three-year low of USD 924 mn in 2015.
Plans to develop the sector have been further impeded by a 2012 moratorium on new mining licences that was intended to allow for reforms to revenue-sharing licences. The moratorium was initially planned to last for just three years, but remains in place as the previous government failed to pass the reforms. The proposed changes to the licences, which are supported by the new Duterte administration, would increase the government’s share of mining revenues. Mining companies in the Philippines already face the most burdensome tax regime in Southeast Asia, with an average of 40 percent of revenues transferred to the government, via a 30 percent corporate income tax and several mining-specific taxes.
Moreover, Duterte has proposed policies that stand to make the enforcement of environmental regulations more onerous, thereby increasing the likelihood of contract cancellation or financial penalties. On his first day in office, he ordered a review of all mines in the country for environmental and communal wrongdoing, threatening to cancel permits for any mines deemed to be damaging to the environment. Mines and Geoscience Bureau Director Leo Jasareno said in June that half of the country’s 44 metal miners had repeatedly violated environmental laws and yet had only received warnings under the six-year administration of Duterte’s predecessor President Benigno Aquino. New Environment Secretary Regina Lopez has called for a ban on all open pit mining, while Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association head Louie Sarmiento said that companies must have comprehensive health and safety plans for all stages of projects, and are required to set aside funds for an environmental clean-up. The government appears likely to focus on enforcement rather than legislative change, with Duterte saying he has no plans to amend existing mining laws.
The suspension of six mines, which were operated by domestic mining companies, since Duterte came to office nonetheless proves that he and mining minister Lopez are following through with the promised compliance drive. Three of the six mines shut down were nickel ore pits, which the government claims were affecting coral reefs and the ecology of the soil in Palawan and Manicani. These early suspensions less than one month into the new administration provide a key indicator of the trajectory of enforcement of regulation, not least as the environment secretary has stated that mines with certification from the International Organisation for Standardization will not be protected from punishments.
Until the audit is completed and wrongdoers are censured, mining companies in the country will be reluctant to invest in new projects and may continue the trend of divestments seen in recent years due to declining profitability. In August 2015, Glencore sold the Tampakan gold mine for a record USD 290 mn due to a ban on opening mining in South Cotabato. Plans to increase the government’s share of mining revenues will further deter investors. Lopez has already started efforts to push through the mining-contract reforms begun by the Aquino administration, demanding as much as 55 percent of net revenues from mining projects. The timeline for when this bill will be put to congress remains unclear.
Indonesia
In Indonesia, which relies on mining for 12 percent of GDP, President Joko Widodo is pushing for environmental compliance and is transferring the authority to issue mining permits from local to provincial authorities, creating new uncertainty for the industry which has experienced major regulatory shifts in the past five years. Ahead of the transfer of power, scheduled for October 2016, activist provincial governors have already responded to communal grievances over mining projects by promising to crack down on environmental infractions. Under the administration of local authorities, hundreds of licences were awarded on land in protected forests and near sensitive bodies of water used by locals, according to the Network for Mining Advocacy (JATAM).
These changes could see firms with existing licenses retrospectively targeted if the location of their operations is deemed to contravene environmental or community interests. For example, the governor of East Kalimantan province, home to 28 percent of Indonesia’s coal reserves and some 1,000 mines including one of the world’s largest gold mines, has already issued a moratorium on new licences and vowed to punish companies that have failed to restore land after use. In addition, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is set to crack down on 90 percent of 10,000 licence holders for failing to pay the required reclamation funds for environmental recovery. KPK chief for natural resources Dian Patria is pushing for retrospective payment of fees worth hundreds of millions of dollars, but small miners – already under pressure due to years of low commodity prices – reportedly no longer have the necessary funds.
The new environmental regulations risk adding to the existing challenges of resource nationalism and hefty state requirements on mineral processing. In January 2014, Jakarta banned exports of most unprocessed minerals, thereby forcing firms to establish domestic mineral-processing facilities to increase the sell-on value of the extractives. The government then indicated it would backtrack on these measures in February 2016 as revenues declined, frustrating firms that already abided by the rules and invested in building smelting facilities. Further indications of resource nationalism and unpredictable policy-making were evident in the government’s negotiations with Freeport-McMoRan on the extension of its licence for the Grasberg mine, the world’s largest gold mine and third-largest copper mine. Jakarta is demanding a 20 percent stake in the mine, but argues that Freeport’s offer to sell the first tranche of 10 percent for USD 1.7 bn is too high, instead valuing it at USD 630 mn. Negotiations remain underway but the protracted dispute will damage the confidence of other investors.
Outlook
Mining firms in both the Philippines and Indonesia will face growing environmental compliance obligations. As political and administrative oversight of the sector changes in both countries, politicians may use new compliance drives as a bargaining chip in license renewal negotiations. Some similar trends have already been witnessed in the oil and gas sector in Indonesia, masking wider government intentions to increase revenue or controlling percentages of licensed blocs.
The mining sector audit that is underway in the Philippines and contract cancellations undertaken by the Duterte government underline the threat to some operations. It remains uncertain if Duterte will be successful in reviewing the terms of revenue-sharing contracts, considering the failure of the Aquino government, although it is worth noting that he has shored up alliances with large parties in both houses of congress that could secure the reforms. Overcoming the moratorium, and then clarifying the terms of mining licenses will be vital to securing investment in the sector.
In Indonesia, the heavy reliance on the mining industry decreases the possibility that the renewed compliance calls by Jakarta will manifest into severe punishments for major mining firms, though small local miners may face shutdowns if reclamation funds become too onerous. Some governors – such as in East Kalimantan – will be politically driven to impose changes quickly, and the experience of existing operators in affected provinces will provide an important indication of future trends that could affect companies. A review of existing government relations is advised for companies set to be affected by the changes.
Written by Jack Wagner, an Asia analyst at PGI Intelligence
