Indophil lauds ban on mercury use in artisanal mining

MANILA, Philippines - Australian mining firm Indophil Resources has lauded the Philippine government’s ban on the use of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM).

“We salute the government’s strong stance against the use of mercury in any form of mining as this would result to a healthier environment and the community as well,” said Gavan Collery, Indophil’s vice president for corporate affairs.

Collery said a mercury-free setting would benefit mine workers with regards to their health.

“The ban on mercury will create a healthier environment for miners, especially small-scale mining workers who are the innocent victims to mercury’s uncontrolled use. Under this Philippine government initiative, now they don’t have to risk their health and life to earn a living,” Collery said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently signed the Minamata Convention during the United Nations Conference on Mercury in Kumamoto, Japan.

The convention, signed by heads of states and ministers of Environment and Foreign Affairs, is a globally binding instrument that prescribes the regulation of mercury use among member states.

The convention enjoins parties to identify sources, uses and applications of  mercury, including unintended releases to the environment,  and develop action plans for the reduction of  the use and eventual phase put of mercury.

Pursuant to the new mining policy issued last year, the DENR has banned the use of mercury in mineral processing, particularly in small-scale mining operations.

Mercury is a highly toxic element, exposure to which damages the brain, kidneys, lungs, heart and the gastrointestinal tract.

Indophil, which has several business interests in the Philippines, has called for greater national government control of small-scale mining.

The company has a 37.5 percent interest in Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI), the operating arm for the proposed Tampakan copper-gold project in South Cotabato.

“The Tampakan project would not use mercury – under any circumstances – in minerals extraction, and it is fully supportive of the Philippine government initiative of responsible mining,” said Collery.

SMI, unfortunately, has  already  cut down expenditure in the tenement as it  continues to comply with the requirements for government approval of the project.