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MANILA, Philippines – Unichamp Group, a Malaysian-based major producer of industrial lime products, has opened a $24-million newly-commissioned, lime manufacturing plant in the Rio Tuba Economic Processing Zone in Bataraza, Palawan.
The Unichamp Group, which has established its presence in various Asia-Pacific countries, is a manufacturer of industrial lime products such as quicklime, hydrated lime, milk of lime, and calcium carbonate powder.
Put up through local unit Unichamp Minerals Philippines, Incorporated will be formally inaugurated on Wednesday, March 25.
It will be locked in a 15-year agreement with Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (CBNC) for the supply of lime milk used in metal processing. CBNC is a joint venture company of Rio Tuba Mining and 3 Japanese shareholders holders: Sumitomo Metal Mining Company Limited, Mitusi Company Limited, and Sojitz.
Company officials declined to give production figures but government investment figures show that the new plant has the capacity to produce 400 metric tons of reconstituted lime milk per day.
The plant began construction in the first quarter of 2013 and was fully completed by the third quarter of 2014. It was then commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Prior to the construction of the plant, CBNC imported lime milk from the the Unichamp Group, which has operations in Malaysia, Laos, Papua New Guinea, and Australia.
The plant would be sourcing natural limestone from the quarry operated by the Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation, a unit of listed Nickel Asia Corporation, Unichamp Mineral president Rommel Ibuna said.
Open for expansion
It is a special purpose plant that produces high quality industrial lime that suits various needs like metal processing, sugar refinery, paper manufacturing, soil treatment, and water treatment, among others.
The company is open to expanding its business in the Philippines should long-term contracts with various industries become viable, Unichamp Group chairman Daniel Lim told reporters in a briefing Monday, March 23.
“We are here for the long-term. The (Philippine) economy is growing and the business environment is improving. We are also interested in projects in water treatment and environmental conservation. This is just a spring board,” Lim said.
Ibuna said through the new plant, Unichamp Philippines can corner 45% of the industrial lime market in the country. Its main competitor in the country is Visayas Slaked Lime Corporation situation in Surigao del Norte, the main supplier to the Taganito HPAL processing plant.
The Unichamp Palawan lime plant is set up with an initial 100 foreign and local employees.
“This is part of the economic integration in Southeast Asia. More Malaysian companies are coming to invest here,” said Ibuna of the new investment.
The company is also now in talks for supply agreements with mining firms Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation (MMDC) and Oriental Peninsula Resources Group, Incorporated. – Rappler.com
Photos from Unichamp Philippines
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