Celsius Resources Ltd announced on Wednesday that its Philippine affiliate had received certification for compliance with the free, prior and informed consent process.

Celsius Resources is a resource development company with projects in Africa and the Philippines. Its Philippine affiliate, Makilala Mining Co Inc, was issued a certification precondition from the Philippine National Commission on Indigenous People, or NCIP, for its flagship Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyong Copper-Gold project, or MCB.

The NCIP is a government agency that protects the rights of indigenous people, and ensures their right to self-determination over ancestral lands.

This was the first certification precondition for a copper gold project to be issued in the Philippines in the last five years, and was the culmination of a three-year process.

Executive Chairman Julito Sarmiento said: ‘This is arguably one of the most stringent approval milestones for a new project to achieve. It has always been the company’s commitment to observance and respect for the customary laws and practices of the Balatoc Indigenous Cultural Community throughout the FPIC process as an integral part of obtaining and strengthening our social licence.’

Now that the certificate precondition has been issued, Celsius Resources are due to submit additional proof of financial capability to carry out its work programs, as well as finalise Philippine and international investors to fund the MCB project.

Shares in Celsius Resources fell 3.6% to 0.65 pence each in London on Wednesday afternoon.

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