Philex confirms new Benguet mine tailings leak

MANILA, Philippines - Philex Mining Corp. yesterday confirmed reports of new leakage from the supposedly repaired tailings pond 3 in its Padcal copper-gold mine in Benguet on Aug. 30. 

In a statement, Philex said it has stepped up its efforts to plug the sinkhole in the tailings pond.

“Despite the bad weather, we have been working 24/7 on long-term solutions to ensure no further outflows of sediment occur,” Philex Mining president and chief operating officer Eulalio Austin Jr. said. “This is ongoing while our employee-volunteers are continuously working on the cleanup and rehabilitation of Balog and the convergence to Agno.”

He said Philex is creating more access trails to the rugged terrain leading to the Balog Creek to enable volunteers to have easy access to the waterway for its rehabilitation.

Philex said the incident was immediately reported to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the Environmental Management Bureau (MGB) and was contained on the same day.

“Our team in Padcal reported that the plugged tailings pond leaked last Thursday but this was plugged again in a few hours,” MGB director Leo Jasareno said.

Philex Mining chairman Manuel Pangilinan had assured the public that the discharge was non-toxic and the chemical compounds used were biodegradable. The company also sought the services of foreign experts and purchased equipment from abroad for use in the cleanup.