Cairns, appointed by international investment clients, assessed the overall economic feasibility and carried out environmental due diligence on former proposals. The project is for a phased programme of extraction of a low grade nickel-ferrous ore body on Mindanao, Philippines. Cairns prepared a scoping study for a comprehensive development plan leading to detailed project design. A framework was established for the preparation of an environmental programme in conformity with Equator Principles.

Key issues included the existence of contiguous non environmentally compliant mining operations; impact of transportation from mining area to export jetties; long term impact on community viability following the cessation of mining operations; import of temporary labour force and their accommodation in relation to the local community; impact on agriculture and forested areas; impact on fisheries and marine ecology through silt charged runoff; and the challenge of monsoon seasonality.