VIA GRAPHIC PLUS | KUALA LUMPUR, MalaysiaĀ ā Listed natural resources company Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC) has achieved a historic triple victory at the Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability (ACES) Awards 2026.
The honors are officially conferred during the ACES Awards summit and gala ceremony on October 15ā16, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The ACES Council recognized NAC across three distinct categories, spotlighting its executive legacy, corporate leadership, and sustainability commitments with the following awards:
- Industry Pioneer Award ā NAC Founder Manuel B. Zamora Jr.: Honored for transforming the Philippine nickel industry, Zamora pioneered the countryās first HPAL plant for low-grade ore processing and built the Bataraza community around the Rio Tuba mine, operating for over 50 years. He established NAC’s enduring “People First” ethos as the company expands into renewable energy, copper, and gold.
- Industry Champions of the Year ā Nickel Asia Corporation:Ā Awarded for maintaining market share leadership in the Philippines’ nickel ore sector, driving strong financial performance, establishing a Board-level Sustainability Committee, and advancing clean energy initiatives through its subsidiary, NAC Energy Inc. (NAC Energy).
- Green Initiative Award ā Nickel Asia Corporation:Ā Recognized for driving its “OneNAC Vision,” the company integrates GRI and UN SDG frameworks while committing to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, supported by an interim target to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50.4% by 2032. It has also restored over 1,200 hectares of mined land and built 292 MW of renewable energy capacity through subsidiary NAC Energy Inc.
Executive Commentary
“Receiving the Industry Pioneer Award is a testament not to my own efforts alone, but to the thousands of workers, engineers, and community partners who built Nickel Asia from the ground up,” said Manuel B. Zamora Jr., Chairman Emeritus of Nickel Asia Corporation.
“When we first developed Rio Tuba and brought HPAL processing to the Philippines, our goal was to show that Philippine mining could reach global standards while putting our people and communities first. This recognition reaffirms that true leadership in resource development is measured by the enduring value and opportunities we leave behind for future generations,ā he added.
āThis triple recognition from the ACES Council validates our strategic conviction that long-term profitability and rigorous environmental stewardship must go hand-in-hand,” stated Jose Bayani Baylon, NAC Chief Sustainability Officer.
“Through our OneNAC Vision, we have embedded ESG governance directly into our corporate governance and boardroom priorities. From restoring over 1,200 hectares of land using sequential planting to advancing our 292MW renewable energy portfolio through NAC Energy, we are actively proving that natural resource companies can lead Asia’s transition toward a decarbonized and climate-resilient future.”
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 has achieved a historic triple victory at the Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability (ACES) Awards 2026.The honors are officially conferred during the ACES Awards summit and gala ceremony on October 15ā16, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The ACES Council recognized NAC across three distinct categories, spotlighting its executive legacy, corporate leadership, and sustainability commitments with the following awards:){kind=link}