Latest News

In an industry long dominated by multinational giants, Paramina’s rise over the past three decades reads like a classic David-and-Goliath story. Paramina International — formerly operating as Paramina Earth Technologies — was founded in 1996 as a Philippine-based mining contractor and technical solutions provider with a straightforward goal: fill a gap in the market for a responsive, locally grounded partner capable of delivering reliable, high-quality services to mining companies.  Today, as Paramina approaches its 30th anniversary in 2026, the company has transformed from a small challenger into a respected player in underground mining and technical consulting, with projects spanning multiple countries and a growing international footprint.   “When Paramina started the business, we were stepping into an industry dominated by global giants — a true David-and-Goliath landscape,” said Karl Resabal. “The market gap we set out to address was clear: customers needed a reliable, responsive, and locally grounded partner who could deliver high-quality solutions without the delays, bureaucracy, or distance of multinational brands.”  Over time, the company’s mission has broadened beyond simply competing with larger firms. Paramina now positions itself as a comprehensive solutions provider for the mining industry.  “Over the past three decades, that mission has evolved from simply challenging the giants to redefining what customers should expect from a trusted industry partner,” Resabal said. “Today, Paramina focuses on delivering complete, end-to-end solutions built on engineering expertise, service reliability, and long-term partnership — a far cry from the small challenger we once were.”  Landmark projects across Asia-Pacific  Paramina’s journey has been defined by several milestone projects that demonstrated both its technical capability and willingness to tackle complex mining environments.  One of its earliest landmark engagements was supporting the development of Philex’s second trackless mining operation in the Philippines. The project involved the deployment of hydraulic long-hole drilling systems, helping modernize underground mining practices in the country.  Another major achievement came in Vietnam, where Paramina helped establish the first two underground gold mines in the country. The project marked a historic milestone for Vietnam’s mining sector while showcasing Paramina’s ability to support pioneering international ventures.  The company also contributed to one of its most technically challenging assignments in Papua New Guinea — the opening of an underground gold mine located at about 1,300 meters above sea level. The remote terrain required transporting equipment and personnel by helicopter, highlighting the company’s ability to operate in demanding and logistically complex environments.  Integrated model and digital solutions  A key differentiator for Paramina has been its integrated business model. Unlike many companies that focus solely on contracting or consultancy, Paramina combines underground mining services with technical solutions, mine planning support and digital tools.  Central to this approach is its partnership with Dassault Systems GEOVIA, a provider of advanced mining software and platform solutions.  “Paramina’s partnership with GEOVIA has allowed us to partner with the biggest mining companies in our country, both local and international players, and has positioned itself as the mining solutions authority in the Philippine mining sector, not only as a solutions provider for GEOVIA but also as a mining consultancy and contractor,” Resabal said.  Through this collaboration, the company helps mining operators implement digital tools such as Surpac, Whittle and MineSched to improve mine planning, scheduling, and project evaluation.  “Many of our clients swear by the efficiency of using GEOVIA programs such as Surpac, Whittle, and MineSched to optimize their mining operations, be it in planning, scheduling, or even in evaluating the financial viability of a project,” he said. “Through our guidance in software training, they are able to maximize their use of the software in a way that their operations are done smarter, faster, and more efficiently.”  Global reach driven by reputation  While Paramina began as a local Philippine contractor, its work has increasingly expanded beyond national borders. According to the company, about 70 percent of its projects today are located overseas.  “Around 70% of Paramina’s projects are now overseas,” Resabal said. “We continue to expand wherever our expertise is needed and where meaningful opportunities arise.”  Interestingly, the company’s international growth has come largely through reputation rather than traditional marketing.  “Despite not engaging in traditional advertising, our work has consistently spoken for itself — and through word of mouth, we have been selected for major international projects across multiple countries,” he said.  Sustainability and stewardship  Like many players in the mining sector, Paramina is also navigating increasing scrutiny around environmental, social and governance standards.  The company frames its approach in simple terms that reflect its long-term relationship with project sites.  “We treat our mining project as our home. We take care of our home,” Resabal said.  Preparing the next generation  As Paramina looks toward its fourth decade, leadership transition is already part of the company’s long-term strategy.  “In the next five years, Paramina will turnover the management and operations to younger engineers and managers,” Resabal said, signaling a deliberate shift to the next generation of industry leaders.  The goal is to ensure continuity while maintaining the company’s core values of resilience and reliability.  “Because of its resilience through every high and low, Paramina has earned a reputation for consistency, integrity, and strength,” he said. “By our 30th anniversary, I would like clients and industry peers to describe Paramina as one of the top mining contractors in the Philippines — a company that has weathered challenges, adapted to change, and continued to deliver exceptional results no matter the circumstances.”  Three decades after entering the industry as an underdog, Paramina now finds itself firmly established as a trusted partner for mining projects across the Asia-Pacific region — proof that even in a Goliath-dominated sector, determined challengers can build lasting influence. 

As the Philippines continues to pursue economic growth through the development of its natural resources, the relevance of laws, policies, and regulatory institutions has never been more critical. The 2025 Geological Convention (GeoCon 2025), held in celebration of the Geological Society of the Philippines’ 80th Oak Jubilee, brought together geoscientists, policymakers, and industry practitioners to reflect on this challenge under the theme “Forged by Time, Strengthened by Integrity, Driven by Professionalism.” The convention underscored a pressing national question: how well do existing legal and policy frameworks respond to evolving industry practices, societal expectations, and sustainability goals? This article draws from the context of GeoCon 2025 and my plenary discourse on 02 December 2025 focusing on the continuing relevance of laws and policies in natural resource development, examining the need for stronger governance, updated regulatory frameworks, and deeper stakeholder collaboration to ensure responsible and equitable resource management in the Philippines. Collectively, these policy instruments serve as the foundation for a resilient, low-carbon, and technologically adaptive economy aligned with international sustainability commitments. Critical Minerals The Philippines is positioned to play a major role in the global clean energy transition due to its large deposits of nickel, copper, cobalt, and other strategic minerals. These materials are essential for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, solar technologies, and energy storage systems. However, the country currently captures only a small portion of the value chain, as most minerals are exported in low-value form. To shift toward value-added processing, the government must establish stable fiscal terms, investor certainty, and a clear industrial strategy that supports mineral processing, refining, and associated manufacturing. This strategy also depends on energy affordability and infrastructure readiness. Processing plants require continuous, cost-effective, and preferably low-carbon electricity, which aligns mineral development with national decarbonization goals. In parallel, mining operations must uphold strict environmental safeguards, including responsible tailings management, watershed protection, progressive rehabilitation, and transparent monitoring systems. Market rules should strike a balance between allowing mineral exports and encouraging domestic processing. A milestones-based export policy can help—letting new mines export early to recover costs and generate cashflow, while gradually shifting toward local value-added processing as capabilities develop. At the same time, requiring transparent and fair off-take agreements ensures that pricing and supply arrangements are clear, competitive, and aligned with national development goals. Petroleum Exploration (Natural Gas) Natural gas remains a critical element of the Philippines’ power generation mix, providing stability, flexibility, and reliability as the share of intermittent renewable energy increases. However, the Malampaya field is entering maturity, and without new discoveries or efficient management, the country may face supply shortages and volatility in electricity prices. To avoid this, policies must encourage exploration in frontier basins, provide predictable contract terms, and reduce regulatory risks that slow project development. At the same time, the Philippines is expanding LNG import capability to supplement domestic gas. To manage this dual-source system effectively, government must clearly define quality standards, interconnection rules, tariff structures, and coordination mechanisms among gas suppliers, pipelines, power plants, and storage facilities. This prevents operational bottlenecks and ensures that both domestic and imported gas can be dispatched efficiently and competitively. Strengthening midstream access rules—particularly for pipeline connections and terminal capacity—will reduce commercialization risk for new gas discoveries. Combined with transparent market operations and coherent energy planning, these reforms preserve reliability while supporting the gradual transition toward a cleaner power generation mix. Renewable Energy The Philippines has high potential for solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal, but slow permitting, unclear land access, and transmission bottlenecks continue to delay project development. A one-stop, time-bound permitting system can greatly reduce administrative burden while maintaining environmental and social safeguards. Clear land acquisition and zoning rules are critical, especially for large-scale solar and onshore/offshore wind developments. Geothermal energy offers continuous, baseload renewable power, which is especially valuable in balancing variable solar and wind generation. However, exploration and drilling are expensive and risky. Government-backed risk mitigation measures—such as drilling insurance, cost-sharing funds, or exploration guarantees—would encourage increased private participation and accelerate geothermal expansion. Renewable energy growth also presents opportunities to build domestic industries, including manufacturing components, assembly of battery systems, and clean-energy-powered mineral processing. Tying renewable deployment to local supply-chain development ensures that job creation and economic value remain in the Philippines, not solely in imported equipment or foreign-operated generation assets. Nuclear Energy As the Philippines seeks long-term grid stability and low-carbon baseload power, nuclear energy is being considered as part of the future energy mix. However, this requires careful and comprehensive regulatory preparation. The Philippine nuclear regulatory authority must finalize licensing standards for both large reactors and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), define inspection and safety protocols, and adopt international best practices on operational transparency and personnel qualification. Nuclear development also requires public trust and robust emergency planning. This includes transparent siting studies, seismic and coastal safety assessments, evacuation and medical response planning, and ongoing community engagement. Additionally, clear long-term strategies for spent fuel storage, eventual decommissioning, and financial liability are crucial to ensure intergenerational safety and accountability. To make early nuclear projects economically viable, government may need to establish long-term power purchase frameworks, capacity market recognition, and risk-sharing mechanisms with the private sector. Simultaneously, the national grid must be reinforced to integrate nuclear facilities and ensure system reliability. Hydrogen Hydrogen has the potential to support industrial decarbonization, long-duration storage, and clean transport, but the market is still emerging and requires policy support. To move from feasibility studies to pilot projects, the government should implement targeted incentives such as tax credits, preferential financing, and demand-side programs in refineries, industrial facilities, and bus or truck fleets. A national Hydrogen Code must define standards for safety, blending with natural gas, pipeline transport, storage, fueling stations, and worker training. Establishing a Guarantee of Origin (GO) certification ensures hydrogen can enter international supply chains, especially where buyers require proof of low carbon emissions. Native hydrogen development requires a clear resource governance framework that defines legal ownership, tenure terms, exploration work obligations, data reporting, and environmental safeguards. Building on the early awards in Zambales and Pangasinan, regulations should ensure transparent exploration results and responsible operational practices. At the same time, a structured pilot-to-commercial pathway is needed—establishing safety protocols, community engagement requirements, and decommissioning plans for pilot sites, with a streamlined process for scaling up to commercial production if technical and environmental performance thresholds are met. Artificial Intelligence, Data Privacy & Digital Governance Open and standardized geoscience data can significantly reduce exploration risk and accelerate the identification of new mineral and energy prospects. By adopting an open-file data-sharing system, the government can ensure that geological maps, drill results, and resource assessments become accessible after reasonable confidentiality periods. However, this openness must be paired with clear privacy and sovereignty safeguards, ensuring that sensitive information is handled responsibly and used to support—not undermine—local and national interests. A modern exploration data governance framework should require companies to submit exploration results in structured, digital formats that can be quickly integrated into national geoscience databases. This allows new information to immediately improve the understanding of an area’s resource potential, supporting transparent decision-making for future exploration licenses and contract awards. Such a system helps attract credible investors, reduces duplication of effort, and promotes more efficient, evidence-based resource development. Data governance for digitalized operations should ensure that information generated from sensors, monitoring systems, and predictive maintenance tools is handled in line with national privacy regulations and emerging AI oversight frameworks. This means energy and resource companies must adopt secure data-handling practices, maintain clear audit trails, safeguard operational and customer information, and ensure that automated systems support—not replace—responsible human decision-making. Grid Connection and Transmission Many planned renewable and clean energy projects cannot proceed because transmission lines are insufficient or delayed. To unlock investment, grid expansion must be planned ahead of energy development, not after. This includes new transmission corridors, substation upgrades, and inter-island connectivity. The grid must also be modernized to handle more variable renewable power, energy storage systems, hydrogen-to-power facilities, and eventually nuclear plants. Updating grid codes, reserve market rules, and system flexibility arrangements will enable a stable, resilient, and future-ready power system. Geoscience Profession Action Points The geoscience profession plays a pivotal role in the Philippines’ modernized energy and resources framework by ensuring that exploration, extraction, and resource management are grounded in scientific integrity and sustainability. Geoscientists lead in mapping, evaluating, and managing critical minerals such as nickel, copper, and rare earth elements under the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Mining, while also advancing subsurface studies for renewable, geothermal, and hydrogen energy development. Their technical expertise supports environmentally responsible extraction and provides a foundation for data-driven investment and policy decisions. Beyond exploration, geoscientists are increasingly involved in advisory and regulatory roles—helping shape standards for environmental protection, carbon accounting, and geological safety. By combining technical capability with governance and ethical responsibility, the geoscience profession strengthens national energy transition efforts, ensuring resource development that is sustainable, transparent, and beneficial for communities and investors alike. Conclusion The Philippines’ evolving energy and resources landscape demonstrates a powerful convergence of policy modernization, technological innovation, and sustainability-driven governance. With forward-looking reforms spanning critical minerals, renewable energy, nuclear development, hydrogen, and digital transformation, the nation is laying a solid foundation for long-term energy security and economic competitiveness. These efforts are not merely reactive responses to global trends—they represent a proactive commitment to reimagining national development through cleaner, more resilient, and inclusive systems of energy and resource management. Ultimately, success will hinge on effective implementation, consistent regulatory clarity, and the meaningful integration of science, policy, and industry expertise. By fostering collaboration among geoscientists, engineers, policymakers, and investors, the Philippines can ensure that each reform translates into real progress—empowering communities, preserving ecosystems, and reinforcing the country’s position as a regional model for sustainable energy governance.