WARRING mining companies, foreign-owned BHP Billiton and Filipino-owned Asiaticus Management Corporation, allegedly met with Environment Secretary Lito Atienza last week to find solution to their differences.

Reports reaching Sun.Star Davao showed that the two companies, which have interests on the Pujada Nickel Mining project in Mati, Davao Oriental, have initially agreed to settle their dispute amicably so as to start the multi-billion dollar project as soon as possible.

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Efforts to confirm this development from both BHP Billiton and Amcor, however, proved futile as of this posting Tuesday.

Amcor media relations officer Leo Villareal confirmed the meeting but said their company is not giving any official statement as to the matter.

"Siguro may refinement pa. Basta ang sabi is we will mine Pujada with a heart," Villareal said.

Villareal maintained that Amcor will never turn its back to the communities, which are all eager for the start of the mining operation so they could get their benefits promised to them by the mining companies.

BHP Billiton and Amcor are locked in a legal battle over the control of the Pujada properties in Mati. A Makati trial court initially favored Amcor but this was later dismissed by a Court of Appeals decision favoring BHP Billiton and allowing the foreign company to mine in the Pujada properties.

Atienza has been brokering a meeting between the two mining companies since last year. This is the first time that something positive has came out of the meeting.