DENR stops export of nickel ore from Manicani mine

MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has stopped the export of nickel ore from Manicani mine of the Hinatuan Mining Corp., an affiliate of listed Nickel Asia Corp., due to excessive soil extraction.

 

“The audit found out that the company was taking too much soil and is disturbing the ecology of the place. They are taking the soil out and it goes to China,” Secretary Gina Lopez said on the sidelines of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) forum. 

 

“We are suspending the retrieving of the stockpiles, to address the ecological balance,” she added.

 

The Manicani mine on Manicani Island in Eastern Samar is the sixth to be suspended since Lopez assumed the post. 

 

Instead of shipping the ore to China, Lopez is proposing that the company to the nickel ore for mine restoration.

 

“I was worried because of Manicani. I sent an audit team to assess. It's better that they return it,” 

 

Lopez said that, based on the audit, around 400,000 metric tons (MT) of nickel ore has already been transported to China while approximately 1.4 million MT has yet to be exported.

 

The Manicani mine is near a marine reserve and residents in the area have made complaints about the water there.

 

“They should get their act together. We are making decisions in the basis of common good,” Lopez said.

 

In a statement, Nickel Asia said its subsidiary has not received any order from the DENR's Mining and Geosciences Bureau to cease the removal of the stockpiles.

 

"But, we stressed that the removal of the stockpiles is the right thing to do from an environmental perspective, as it will do away with any potential environmental impacts that such stockpiles might pose, while at the same time providing badly needed employment and tax revenues," Nickel Asia president and chief executive officer Gerard Brimo said.

 

 

Meanwhile, the department is forming a "SWAT" unit that will be composed of retired military officials to address not just mining concerns but also other environment violations.

 

“We are forming it and [it] will be finalized in the next two weeks. That will also cover illegal logging, illegal fishing and others. It will act as an audit team to address and lessen environmental complaints,” she said. 

 

In Memorandum Order No.2016-01, she ordered the audit of all operating and suspended mines while the moratorium covers the acceptance, processing and approval of applications and projects for all metallic and non-metallic minerals.

 

The order takes effect immediately and “shall remain in force and in effect until formally terminated.”

 

Lopez reiterated that technical audit alone is not enough, as social, environmental, and health aspects are being considered as well. 

 

Among the considerations include affected rice fields and bodies of water and the health of the communities, Lopez said. 

 

The DENR is set to release the result of the mining audit of large and small-scale companies next month.