American firms SBA Communications Corp. and ZAF Energy Systems and Battery Grade Materials, Inc. (BGM) are readying multi-billion peso investments in the Philippines in high-technology projects.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said SBA has committed to invest P11 billion for telecommunication infrastructure while AF and its affiliate company, BGM is eyeing between $400 million and $500 million for hydroxide processing plant and battery manufacturing projects.
Lopez had separate meetings with officials of these companies in Washington DC last week.
Lopez said SBA senior director (International) Nicholas Van Slyck mentioned the company’s goal of building 180 telecommunication towers in 2022 as an independent tower company.
Lopez said the company is in talks with mobile network operators Smart, Globe, and Dito for SBA’s shared tower model. At present, the company has installed 20 towers and expects to build 42 more by the end of the quarter.
SBA set up its passive telecommunications towers infrastructure project in the country in 2021 and was approved by the Board of Investments in March last year.
SBA intends to install a total of 1,470 tower structures in the country within five years.
Lopez said in a meeting with ZAF chief executive officer Randy Moore mentioned they are in talks with some Philippine-based nickel mining companies and are looking for more possible suppliers.
He said they aim to partner with these companies in producing nickel hydroxide in the country using state-of-the art and environment safe technologies. Nickel hydroxide serves as an electrode material for battery technologies such as nickel-zinc batteries for electric vehicles and other applications for commercial and defense-related equipment.
When fully completed including a battery factory, estimated total investments could reach up to $400 million to $500 million and employ almost a thousand direct employees, Lopez said.
SZAF and BGM are working with the Board of Investments and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in New York for their planned due diligence visit to the country. – Irma Isip
