THE Board of Investments (BoI) said Monday that it launched the master plan for the Philippines’ first ecological industrial zone, targeted at copper producers.
Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez in an online event Monday said that the Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone (LEIZ) will have three clusters: a main manufacturing hub, a commercial and agro-industrial area, and agro-industrial development and training facilities.
“These three sites will complement each other and provide the needed raw materials, products, services, and manpower that the other development cluster needs,” he said.
The government engaged architecture firm Palafox Associates in developing the plan. An eco-industrial park is a group of businesses on one site that efficiently use and share resources to minimize waste and pollution.
According to the government’s copper industry roadmap, the BoI plans to develop a “fully integrated” copper industry by 2030, by establishing a wire rod casting facility and the manufacture of higher-value copper products.
Mr. Lopez said the copper industry’s main opportunities lie in supplying electric vehicles, 5G network, and solar power manufacturers.
“At present, the electric vehicles industry makes up just 1% of copper demand. By 2030, many analysts expect that figure to reach 10%,” he said.
“Likewise, clean energy and digitalization programs are expected to push average annual growth demand for copper up by 2.5% this decade. This would likely drive consumption toward 30 million tons by 2030.” — Jenina P. Ibañez
