MERGED: Mining Issues

[grabehbebe]

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Canada-based mining firm pursues expansion

Undaunted by its problems with informal settlers, TVI Resource Development Phils. Inc. pursues expansion and acquisition plans even as it expects to generate P3.4 billion in revenues this year doubling last year’s P1.7-billion revenues due to good metal prices for its gold and silver mining operation in the Zamboanga, Peninsula.

Yulo Perez, TVIRDP general plant manager, said the company is already in its advanced stage of negotiations with the Privatization Management Office for its interest in the North Davao mining project.

The 26,000-hectare copper and gold mining project in Compostela Valley requires $ 200 million for its rehabilitation. North Davao has also annual potential revenue of $ 300 million.

The company is confident it can offer expertise, capability and track record to run a large scalemining operation.

The company is also pursuing its expansion for the gold and copper exploration in Canatuan with an investment of $ 23 million that would prolong its operation for six more years. The existing god and silver mine is expected to last until 2008, Perez said.

Perez said the company is sticking to its schedule for the expansion project to start commercial operation early next year.

full story: http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS2006072870271.html

[SamuraiArcher]

I'm favor of Mining operations in the Philippines, as long nga ipatuman ang mga baluad/guidelines sa DENR.....

[wak_wak]

it will help the philippines.. why man mag oppose ta ani? its for good man..

[grabehbebe]

Responsible mining to spur dev’t in N. Vizcaya, Quirino

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Angelo Reyes expressed confidence that a new regime of responsible mining will advance economic and social progress in the rural towns within Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino where a copper-gold project holds the promise of community development.

Making the record of being the first cabinet secretary to visit the mining project, Reyes prodded the local government to contribute to the fast-tracking of the mine’s construction and development. This, he said, “will consequently benefit natives of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.”

“We all need to support this project so that the province and community can start enjoying its benefits,” Reyes told a crowd of provincial government leaders, indigenous people and residents.

The copper-gold mining project located in Barangay Didipio, Casibu, Nueva Vizcaya, will allocated over its mine life an estimated P150 million under its Social Development and Mining Program (SDMP) and P447 million for its Environment Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP). Both SDMP and EPEP are mandated under Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act.

Reyes is known for advocating reforms in government’s regulation of mining operations. In an effort to downplay people’s gnawing memory of the country’s sad experience in mining in the past, he has imposed more stringent monitoring of any adverse impact of mining activities on the environment or on host communities. ]

Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma also assured during Reyes visit of the government’s support for their participation in protecting the environment and in uplifting their social welfare.

The project is seen as an alternative source of employment for illegal small-scale miners. It is estimated to employ 1,000 during construction and 500 at development stage.

The project, through Australasian Phils. Mining Inc. (APMI), holds a contract with the government (a financial and technical assistance agreement) over the Didipio Valley which will turn out to be first large-scale mine in a string of potential mineral discoveries in Region 2.

Even before it starts construction, APMI has already invested in community welfare works in Didipio including construction of roads, schools, and health clinics. APMI, whose parent company originates from Australia, has spent at least 15 years exploring and proving the economic viability of operating the project.


http://www.tribune.net.ph/business/20060817bus9.html

[grabehbebe]

APC Group to invest in power, mining venturesBy Zinnia B. Dela Peña


APC Group Inc., a listed holding company controlled by leisure and gaming firm Belle Corp., aims to become one of the major players in the power and mining industries in the next few years.

APC president Willy Ocier said the company. hoping to capitalize on the resurgent minerals and metals sector, expects to do exploration work on Service Contract 14, an oil and gas find located in the Cagayan Valley, next month or as soon as studies have been completed.

Ocier said the company is setting aside $2.5 million in the next two years for S.C.#14. The service area is around 748,000 hectares.

"We want to become a serious player in the energy and mining industry. We’ll be here for the long haul. The mining sector is seen as a catalyst for growth," Ocier said.

He said a number of foreign mining firms had expressed interest to join APC in several mining ventures. Negotiations are ongoing pending due diligence studies on the company’s mining claims.

"We cant finalize a deal without first knowing what we have," Ocier said.

Ocier said the company is still bent on disposing its cash-strapped telecommunications unit Philippine Global Communications Inc. to allow it to focus on the energy resource exploration and pursue mining activities.

Aside from the divestment of Philcom, the APC Group early this year decided to sell the security service business and phase out the petroleum trading business. These moves are in line with the company’s thrust of divesting non-core and unprofitable businesses.

Ocier said the group plans to bring newly-incorporated subsidiary Aragorn Power & Energy Corp. public in the next six to 12 months.

After a decline in the past 20 years, the Philippine mining industry is slowly regaining its old glory with some $3.1 billion in foreign direct investments expected to be poured into different mining projects.

The Philippines is considered a highly mineralized area with mineral resources estimated to cover nine million hectares or about 30 percent of the country’stotal land area. Currently, however, less than half a million hectares are being explored or developed.

The government estimated that the country’s mineral wealth is estimated at $800 billion to $1 trillion.

APC through subsidiary APC Mining Corp. has an application for an exploration permit in the Municipality of Alubijid, Misamis Oriental. The application covers 2,537 hectares of confirmed chromite-bearing formation.


----http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200608180710.htm

[jojo_mouth2]

mining is great source of income, great source of employment (more than 15,000 workforce per co.), and creates revenue. mining itself is not the cause of deterioration of environment but it is becoz of corrupt govt official. naa man ni sila mga precautions and rehabilitation program sa environment after the minerals are extracted or before they vacate the site. what you see now in the mining sites are still operating and wala pa giabandon. before they do so, ila na rehabilitate para useful pa ang bukid.

kung babagan ni ninyo ang mining, asa man ninyo ipa trabaho more than 50,000 filipino workers sa minahan?? gugangan nasad ang unemployment rate ani....

[soilentgreen]

Join with the people of Rapu Rapu and tell the banks backing this toxic mine to stop funding destruction.

During its few months of operation cyanide and other contaminants from the Australian-owned mine on Rapu Rapu Island, Philippines, spilled into the sea, resulting in massive fish kills.

The Lafayette Project is financed through a syndicate of banks including ANZ Investment Bank and ABN AMRO Bank NV (Australian Branch) in clear breach of their environmental policies.

Tell ANZ & ABN AMRO to withdraw funding for the Rapu Rapu mine.
Go to the links below and sign the petition:
http://write-a-letter.greenpeace.org/44
http://write-a-letter.greenpeace.org/46

--
Greenpeace Southeast Asia
http://www.greenpeace.org.ph

[iloveyou4ever]

It helps create jobs.

[jojo_mouth2]

Join with the people of Rapu Rapu and tell the banks backing this toxic mine to stop funding destruction.

During its few months of operation cyanide and other contaminants from the Australian-owned mine on Rapu Rapu Island, Philippines, spilled into the sea, resulting in massive fish kills.

The Lafayette Project is financed through a syndicate of banks including ANZ Investment Bank and ABN AMRO Bank NV (Australian Branch) in clear breach of their environmental policies.

Tell ANZ & ABN AMRO to withdraw funding for the Rapu Rapu mine.
Go to the links below and sign the petition:
http://write-a-letter.greenpeace.org/44
http://write-a-letter.greenpeace.org/46

--
Greenpeace Southeast Asia
http://www.greenpeace.org.ph

hello are you aware there are 10,000 employees in that mining firm? ikaw mo pakaun nila? closure of mining firm is the solution of the chemical spillage. strick implementation lang sa balaud ang kulang ani.

[franklin]

mga taga greenpeace ang mu pa kaun nila. naa man silay green vegetables like kangkong, alugbati, malungay,...ect hehehe.
seriously, daku baya natabang ang mining sa atu country and continuous operation sa lafayette can do more good than leaving those minerals useless. this could also help filipinos from leaving our country for jobs. anyway the company is doing everything to prevent that incident form happening again. that incident will be a big lesson for mining companies