By Mark Ivan C. Roblas

APC Group, Inc., a company engaged in oil and gas exploration and development, is planning to explore Palawan for possible nickle and chromite deposits.

In a disclosure, APC corporate secretary Edmundo L. Tan said APC Mining Corp., a subsidiary of the APC Group, has applied for an exploration permit with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for an exploration permit to explore a 1,134 hecatare land in Barangay Apurawan in Aborlan, Palawan.

The area being eyed by APC Mining is known to contain nickel and chromite deposits.

Bernard Lim, chief financial officer of APC Group, said the company also has pending exploration permits for three sites in Zambales and Misamis Oriental.

He said in an interview that the company has applied at the DENR a permit to explore a 2,537 hectare site in Barrio Alubihit in Misamis Oriental for possible chromite deposits.

Mr. Lim also said the firm has a pending permit for exploration in a 5,176 hectare lot saddling the municipalities of Candelaria and Sta. Cruz in Zambales for possible chromite deposits.

APC Mining also has a pending permit for a 6,431 hectare lot in Palawig, Zambales also for chromite deposits.

Mr. Lim said once the company finds substantial ore in the mining site suitable for commercial development, it would apply for a mineral production sharing agreement with the DENR. "With the improving metal prices and the government's thrust of encouraging investments in mining, we have decided to venture into mining," he said.

APC Group is 46.6% owned by property developer Belle Corp. The company was formerly know as Asian Petroleum Corp.