Carmen Copper Corporation

Just a few months ago, we visited the Carmen Copper Corporation mine site and museum in Toledo City, Cebu. I never thought this kind of museum existed in the Philippines but, I was surprised that we have one in here. It is the first and only mining museum in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia.

Carmen Copper Corporation (CCC) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation (ACDMC), A company primarily engaged in metallic mineral exploration and mining. The CCC started operation in 1955. It utilizes both surface and underground mining methods to extract copper ore from the open pits and underground mines.

Before the start of the tour, our facilitator conducted a briefing about the company.

Our facilitator, Mr. Joy Desurio, told us that we are one of the few lucky visitors of the museum since it was formally opened to the public last September 19, 2018.

Topics discussed:

• Company’s Mission & Vision
• History (Toledo became a city because of the CCC)
• The rebirth of the CCC
• Environmental protection
• Reforestation
• Emergency Response Team (Participation of the company during emergency cases not only in Toledo but also in some parts of the country)
• Environmental performance (including responsible mining)
• Other topics regarding their operation.
• Safety reminder

After the briefing, hard hats and vests were distributed for our protection during the tour, especially in the open-pit mine tour activity.

The company provided a free shuttle bus and snacks during the tour. The CCC compound covering 1,674 hectares is a very huge place to visit and cannot be accessed using ordinary vehicles.

Open Pit Mine Tour

On our way to the open pit, our facilitator keeps informing us about the process and how the company helped and trained the community to have sustainable agriculture. They conducted different activities and seminars to the farmers since the soil became acidic, other plants cannot grow in this kind of soil.

Along the way, our facilitator explains the process and the role of each facility in the ore extraction.

After 30 minutes, we reached the open pit. The view at the open pit was breathtaking. Mother nature is truly generous in this area of Cebu when it comes to mineral deposits. According to our facilitator, the copper deposit will definitely be exhausted by 10 to 20 years from now.

Museum Tour: Carmen Copper Heritage Center

Right after our open pit mine tour, we headed directly to the museum. The museum has indoor and outdoor galleries. At the lobby of the Heritage Center is a statue of Don Andres Soriano. Our museum guide told us about Don Andres Soriano’s contribution to the mining industry.

The first indoor museum is the Art Gallery, where pictures of different activities are engaged by CCC with various communities, such as tree planting.

The next indoor museum tour is the History Gallery. Detailed information about the company’s operation from its beginning as a small mine in 1953 to what it is today can be seen on the wall.

In the gallery are the employees’ Memorabilia, various machines, and gadgets used in different divisions and operations regarding the production of copper.

Here are some of the earliest mining instruments on display:

An extremely heavy universal protective relay testers manufactured by Multi-Amp Electrical Sciences, Inc. Of Dallas, Texas. Used in the era of electromagnetic solid-state technology

The Tamaya Theodolite model 6280 imported from Japan is the earliest surveying instrument used by ACMDC.

The Outdoor Gallery showcasing some of the heavy and massive equipment used in the operation.

This Komatsu Haulpak is a mine truck that used to transport ore by thousands of tons.

Also on display is a Mucking machine that is a piece of rail-based equipment used to remove ore from the underground mine and loaded these into mine cars using a conveyor belt.

Another outdoor display is a replica of the A-Frame Scale or head frame and a large SKF sheave. The SKF sheave was one of the grooved wheels in the mine’s head frame that used to be a passenger cage that carried up to 200 tons of ores, equipment, or miners up and down the underground mine in the 1970s until the temporary closure of Atlas Mining in 1994.

There’s also a tank that stored liquids for waterproofing used in the development of the underground mine.

Next is the Old Activity Center. An underground locomotive used to pull in and out of mine tunnels was displayed outside.

Mine vehicle like this were specifically used to transport personnel through the tunnel in the underground mine.

Science Gallery Dioramas is an exact representation of the mine site’s operational area.

The gallery aims to immerse its visitors not just in the history of copper but also in the science involved in extracting and producing copper.

Also on display are different products made of copper such as a set of coins, a decorative tea set, decorative plated saucer, cellular phones, etc.

The gallery will let every visitor experience the actual scene inside the mine tunnel by providing materials used or done during the extraction of ore.

Aside from ore, some rocks and minerals found inside the mine site can also be seen inside the activity area.

The activity is open to its stakeholders, including the public, on a per request basis. The company provides a tour to at least 20 persons upon approval by the Carmen Copper Corporation.

The activity is done primarily to avoid speculations on mining and that laws and principles of responsible mining are well taken and are being practiced.

Address: DAS, 6038 Toledo City, Cebu

Contact number: 63 (32) 3252702

Overall, we had a great time touring the whole area. It was a very informative one.

Thank you Carmen Copper Corporation for this opportunity!

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