Four firms face suspensions over nickel contamination in Zambales town

Four mining companies may have their operations suspended over nickel contamination in the town of Sta. Cruz in Zambales since last year.

In a report on “24 Oras” aired Thursday, Mines and Geosciences Bureau director Leo Jasareno said his agency is now conducting an investigation into the possible operational lapses of the following firms:
Benguet Corp. Nickel Mines Inc. (BNMI)
Eramen Minerals, Inc.
Zambales Diversified Metals Corp, (DMCI Mining Corp. and Rusina Mining Corp.)
Lnl Archipelago Minerals, Inc., designated operator of Filipinas Mining Corp.
The MGB allowed the companies to extract around 8.5 million metric tons of nickel and other minerals a year in Zambales.

Jasareno said among the possible violations is the height of the nickel stockpiles maintained by these companies. Stockpiles are the areas where the mined nickel is stored before being loaded onto cargo vessels.

He said the mining firms may have kept oversized stockpiles in violation of their environmental compliance certificates (ECCs).

Jasareno said the MGB is also investigating the possible absence of tailings ponds which are supposed to contain the dissolved nickel during rains.

“Dapat kasi ‘pag nagmimina ka ng nickel, yung nickel hindi dapat lumalabas ng environment, contained dapat yan. Para ma-contain mo yan, meron silang tinatawag na pond, dun dapat mapupunta yung tubig na may nickel,” the mines bureau chief said.

He said the four companies were already ordered to explain the contamination on the shores and rice fields of Sta. Cruz. Jasareno said operations of these companies will be suspended if they are found to have violated guidelines.

GMA News sought comment from the four companies but three of them refused to either grant an interview or issue a statement.

BNMI however maintained that the company practices responsible mining and that its technologies and operations pass the standards of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to which the MGB is attached.

“BNMI is a large-scale mining company adhering strictly to the policy of responsible mining and sustainable development and integrating this in the way that the company manages its business. Its operations and environment-related measures are closely and regularly monitored by DENR, MGB and EMB (Environmental Management Bureau), LGUs (local government units) as well as community organizations,” BNMI said in a statement. — Elizabeth Marcelo/JDS, GMA News