DENR to harmonize closed mine audits
THE Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR) shall harmonize two sets of audit reports on the 26 mines whose operations were suspended or closed more than a year ago before deciding on them.
At the sidelines of a Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) meeting at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) complex in Manila on Thursday, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu identified those reports as that on the council’s review and of the department’s findings that his precedessor Regina Paz “Gina” Lopez presented in 2017.
“As far as giving the decision on the closure and suspension of mining operations as decided by the previous secretary, we will harmonize it first with the MICC findings,” he said.
Operations that the DENR ordered closed last year were BenguetCorp Nickel Mines Inc., Eramen Minerals Inc., LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc., and Zambales Diversified Metals Corp. in Zambales province; Mount Sinai Mining Exploration and Development Corp., Emir Minerals Corp., and TechIron Mineral Resources Inc. in Homonhon island, Eastern Samar province; AAMPHIL Natural Resources Exploration, Oriental Synergy Mining Corp., SinoSteel Philippines HY Mining Corp., Kromico Inc., Oriental Vision Mining Philippines Corp., Wellex Mining Corp., and Libjo Mining Corp. in Dinagat Islands; and Adnama Mining Resources Inc., Claver Mineral
Development Corp., Hinatuan Mining Corp., CTP Construction and Mining Corp., Carrascal Nickel Corp., Marcventures Mining and Development Corp., and Platinum Development Corp. in Surigao del Norte province.
Suspended were the operations of OceanaGold Phils Inc.; Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co.; Citinickel Mines and Development Corp.; Berong Nickel Corp.; and Ore Asia Mining and Development Corp.
The Environment chief confirmed that four of the 26 failed to meet MICC standards in its industry review. He declined to name them.
Earlier, MICC member and Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin said these four failed to reach a passing average of 1.5 for four of the five MICC criteria.
“The review teams assessed each mine in connection with the criteria and the benchmarks. And then the system was such that 3 is the highest score acceptable, 2 is minor reforms needed, 1 is major reforms, [and]0 is unacceptable,” Agabin explained.
The council convened its first meeting in February 2017 after the department, then led by Lopez, ordered the 26 mining operations or sites suspended or closed.
The MICC’s technical working group created five technical review teams (TRTs) that conducted an “objective, fact-finding, science-based” review of the DENR’s order.
The review was based on “the guidelines and parameters set forth in the specific mining contract and in other pertinent laws, taking into account the valid exercise of the state’s police power to serve the common good of the poor,” a council resolution read.
Under an organizational framework, the teams reviewed the compliance of the 26 sites with applicable agreements, submissions, laws and regulations, and impact of their operations.
Each TRT covered five aspects involving the technical, legal, social, environmental and economic impact of the mining operations, including the effect on agricultural reform areas.
The review was made in accordance with Executive Order 79, which requires the MICC to review mining operations every two years.
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