DENR to save $5.9-B mining project

MANILA, Philippines - Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje said yesterday that the Aquino administration won’t just stand by and allow the $5.9-billion potential investment of the Swiss-based Xstrata Group in the Tampakan copper-gold project in South Cotabato to be cancelled.

Since the Tampakan project is still slated to start operations in 2016, Paje said the National Government has ample time to “handle the issue.”

Concern over the continuity of the project was raised after the South Cotabato provincial government approved the rules to implement the South Cotabato Environment Code, a provincial ordinance that includes a ban on the use of open pit mining methods in the province.

Paje said: “The IRR has no immediate effect on Tampakan. Their operation is 2016 yet. We have (a) few more years to handle the issue.”

Sagitarrius Mines Inc. (SMI), the local entity that will operate the Tampakan project, has identified an open mining method for the project because of the nature of the ore body.

SMI said it has made mitigating plans to ensure that it preserves all the natural flora and fauna in the area and create a suitable new habitat for what it will displace.

SMI is awaiting approval from the DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for its environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) study as well as continuing talks with local communities and indigenous peoples in the three provinces where the mining project will operate.

SMI is continuing with its activities even as it   closely monitors further actions of the South Cotabato local government.

SMI is still hoping that it will get the approval of the DENR-MGB for its ESIA so that it can meet its infrastructure construction timetable.