BenguetCorporation started mining gold in 1903, chromite in 1934 and copper in 1971. Benguet is the pioneer mining company in the Philippines and in one or more times in its history is the largest gold and chromite producer and rated as the fourth largest copper producer.

Initially known as "Benguet Consolidated Mining Company", it was incorporated under the name "Benguet Consolidated Inc." in 1956. In 1980, the company was renamed BenguetCorporation, by which time it had diversified into steel casting, real estate development, forest management, trucking, warehousing, and metal trading.

Mining Operations

The company, in over a century of mining operations, mirrors the illustrious history of Philippine Mining. Of note, the following are the significant contributions of BenguetCorp to the mining industry:

BENGUET GOLD OPERATION (BGO)
MASINLOC CHROMITE OPERATION (MCO)
PARACALE GOLD OPERATION (PGO)
DIZON COPPER-GOLD OPERATION (DCO)
BENGUET ANTAMOK GOLD OPERATION (BAGO)

Benguet Gold Operation (BGO)

Established in Balatoc, Itogon, BGO introduced modern mining in the Philippines. Notably identified by its three mining areas - Balatoc, Acupan and Antamok - BGO, the flagship of BenguetCorp., employed as much as 6,000 miners and engineers at the height of its operation producing about 10,000 ounces of gold per month. BGO  is now limited to small scale mining operations.

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Masinloc Chromite Operation (MCO)

Started mining in 1936 and by the 1950s mined the world's biggest refractory chromite deposit. Mining by open pit and underground mining method, MCO currently is working on the government's ZMCR ore reserve. Strategically located at the western flank of Zambales, the company operates a port facility which can handle 30,000-DMT ships. Although the chromite market has steadily declined over the years, the company is looking into its vast reserves of limestone and aggregate materials for future development. Currently, research is being made on the use of chromite in the pharmaceutical and construction industries.

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Paracale Gold Operation (PGO)

An underground gold mining "CIL-CIP" operation, this
500- TPD operation was envisioned to be the company's "first-step" in the gold-rich Paracale district of the Bicol region. With this operation recently sold, the company looks forward to another foot-hold in the area.

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Dizon Copper-Gold Operation (DCO)

Clearly one of the most successfully mined ore bodies in the Philippines, DCO, a copper porphyry with significant gold content was the company's showcase operation employing the first SAGM (semi-autogenous mill) in the Philippines. It boasts of a 900-unit township for its employees and a mill tailings dam which is one of the biggest earth-dams in the Far East. In the 17 years that BenguetCorp operated the property, 749,755,457 pounds of copper, 3,204,500 ounces of silver and 1,906,754 ounces of gold were produced after milling 110,032,507 million tonnes of ore.

In late 1994, DCO prepared and implemented a phase-out program in anticipation of the cessation of operations -- a first in the Philippine mining industry. The program, prepared in coordination with its corporate foundation, JVOFI, called for the involvement of the community, the local government unit (LGU), employees and their dependents, and other stakeholders who would be affected by the cessation of operations.

The pit, which yielded ore three years beyond its estimated mine life had to finally close due to slope instability and yearly flooding. In late 1997, the company turned over the property to DCSMI, the claimowner.

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Benguet Antamok Gold Operation (BAGO)

The Benguet Antamok Gold Operation (BAGO) is a CIL-CIP open pit operation, mining a closely spaced vein/breccia/ stockwork complex in the surface of the old Antamok mining area. This 4,000 TPD operation is currently suspended due to the very low gold price. The mill complex (SAGM) will be the future mill of other significant reserves of Antamok and Acupan. A renewed exploration effort will be launched as soon as a significant improvement in the Philippine mining scenario is seen.

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