By Othel V. Campos

TVI Resources Development Inc., operator of the Canatuan copper project in Zambonga del Norte, is increasing production as much as 1,350 metric tons a day by mid-year to 1,850 MT by yearend to catch up with copper prices in the world market.

?We?re ramping up production. We?re averaging 1,000 tons per day and we are steadily increasing that,? said company director for public affairs Rocky Dimaculangan.

He said the company was nearly halfway to achieving its target shipping of 5,000 MT of copper concentrates in the first quarter.

?As of end-January, our copper concentrate inventory is at 2,176 MT and hopefully we?ll be able to send our initial shipment well within the first quarter timeframe,? he said.

TVI Resources commissioned its copper sulphide facility in November in preparation for commercial operation in December.

The mining firm recently forged a five-year supply agreement with MRI Trading AG of Switzerland, one of the world?s largest trading houses.

The Swiss trader agreed to purchase all copper concentrates produced by TVI Resources at the Canatuan mine. TVI Resources agreed to sell all its copper concentrate production from the Canatuan mine exclusively to MRI Trading.

?We still intend to pursue other exploration projects in the Zamboanga peninsula but as of now we?re focused on Canatuan,? said Dimaculangan .

The company has filed for a mineral permit and sharing agreement with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau for a mining prospect in Zamboanga del Norte.