The Philippines has ordered the suspension of operations at two nickel ore mines for environmental violations and halted the issuance of exploration permits as a nationwide crackdown led by a new mining minister begins.
The move could curb nickel ore shipments from the Southeast Asian country, the top supplier to No. 1 market China, and push up global prices further.
News last week that the Philippine government would review all mining operations in the country lifted the price of nickel by 8 percent in two days.
It hit an eight-month high of $10,410 a tonne on Monday.
The two nickel mines to be suspended are operated by BenguetCorp Nickel Mines and Zambales Diversified Metals in Zambales province, north of the capital Manila, Leo Jasareno, director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, told Reuters on Thursday.
The suspensions followed "various complaints of environmental degradation," Jasareno said, adding they would be in effect until the companies complied with conditions set by the agency.
Officials at Benguet Corp, which owns BenguetCorp Nickel mines, were not immediately available for comment. Zambales Diversified Metals could not immediately be reached for comment.
The mining minister, Regina Lopez, a staunch environmentalist, separately said there would be a ban on fresh mining exploration in the country for a month while a review of all existing mines was underway.
"There's a moratorium on new mining until we're done with the audit," Lopez told Reuters in an interview.
The Southeast Asian country has stopped issuing new permits to develop mines since 2012 but has allowed exploration until now.
Of around 40 metals mines operating in the Philippines, Lopez said she didn't "even know of one" that practised responsible mining, strictly adhered to environmental standards or took full care of the local communities where they operate.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who took office last week, has warned he would cancel mining projects causing environmental harm.