The Alyansa Tigil Mina Blog

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

TAMPAKAN, South Cotabato — Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes last
week renewed government support to the copper and gold venture of an
Australian-backed mining firm.

“I will go back to Manila confident that mining in Tampakan will be
done responsibly and is responsive to the needs of the community,” Reyes
said in a press conference that followed a briefing given to him by officials
of Sagittarius Mines Inc.

Sagittarius, backed by the Australian firm Indophil Resources NL, is
conducting drilling activities in the boundaries of South Cotabato,
Sultan Kudarat, and Davao cel Sur. (more…)

http://www.mb.com.ph/MTNN2006061366657.html
By ELLALYN B. DE VERA

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Angelo Reyes said the DENR would consider the utmost interest of the Filipino people as the DENR chief is expected to finally decide today (June 13) the fate of Australian mining firm Lafayette Philippines Inc. (LPI) operating in Rapu-Rapu, Albay.

“The issue here is not just whether we will allow the Rapu-Rapu project to reopen or not based on technical and environmental considerations but we must also ensure that when we make a decision, the welfare of the Filipino people is taken into utmost consideration,” Reyes said.
“We have studied all the issues relative to the incidents and the mining operation, as well as government response in terms of enforcing the rules and monitoring the project,” Reyes added.
“We deeply appreciate the efforts of the Commission because they provided us with critical inputs that would help us form our decision,” the DENR chief said.

Reyes said he is also interested in coming up with a decision as anybody else, whether or not to allow the LPI to resume operations despite a widespread clamor for mining in Rapu-Rapu after the twin spill incidents last October. (more…)

http://news.inq7.net/regions/index.php?index=1&story_id=78932
First posted 01:52am (Mla time) June 13, 2006
By Madonna T. Virola
Inquirer

CITY OF CALAPAN—Efforts by protesters to raise awareness on mining in Mindoro were disturbing to a shareholder of a foreign mining firm that plans to extract nickel in Mindoro, according to a leader of the Alliance against Mining on Mindoro Island (Alamin), the protesters’ group.

“Goldman-Sachs, which holds about 61 million shares in Crew, was disturbed by the issues we raised,” said Fr. Edwin Gariguez of the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan and leader of Alamin.
Ben de los Reyes, spokesperson of Crew Mining in Mindoro, said the protesters were still unaware of his firm’s planned operation and would launch an information and education campaign.

Leaders of Alamin and Mindoro tribes earlier toured the United Kingdom to campaign against the planned operations of Crew. They were invited to speak in the British parliament.
Gariguez said Alamin’s campaign “paved the way for a possible fact-finding (mission) and resolutions … (for) stricter regulation of UK companies and complaint mechanisms for affected (mining) communities.”

Crew plans to develop a nickel and cobalt mine in Mindoro on a concession almost 100 sq km in area and straddling the provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro. Reserves are estimated to be good for 30 years.

http://news.inq7.net/regions/index.php?index=1&story_id=78930
First posted 01:50am (Mla time) June 13, 2006
Inquirer

A mining company hounded by an investigation into two waste spills in its site in Rapu-Rapu, Albay and continuing protests by leftist militant groups held its first flag ceremony yesterday, Independence Day, and would do so every Monday.

In a press statement, Lafayette Philippines Inc. (LPI) chair and president Carlos Dominguez said the simple ceremony on Independence Day would start off the company’s efforts to promote sense of country and instill in its workforce a deeper commitment to responsible mining.

“This is a simple gesture but I am sure it will go a long way. A fired-up workforce will do its best for the company and all its stakeholders, especially the host communities,” he said.
Dominguez, who was tapped to head a Filipino team to manage the Rapu-Rapu project, said people and technology would drive the company to its goal of getting sustained public support and acceptance.

“We have put in place all the needed remedial measures. We are confident of demonstrating that we will be sincere and responsible partners in the growth of the host communities,” he said.
The environment group Greenpeace earlier presented a report claiming residents of communities near Rapu-Rapu would gain only P2 a day out of the mine operations.
LPI is awaiting a government decision today on its request to test its remedial measures and eventually resume full operations.

Monday, June 12, 2006

http://www.miningnews.net/storyview.asp?storyid=60170
AUSTRALIAN resource companies and investors alike often baulk when
faced with foreign investments, particularly in countries with differing
mining and political cultures. But the truth is, if a deposit shows enough
potential, then almost any situation can be successfully managed. By
Chris Cann - RESOURCESTOCKS*

That is the principal reason behind the appointment of Robert Gregory
as chief executive and managing director of Rusina Mining, which controls
the Acoje chrome-platinum-nickel property in the Philippines.

Gregory joined the company in November last year and brings with him 20
years experience operating in South-East Asia as a mining engineer on
both opencut and underground mines, including four years with Climax Mining
in the Philippines. (more…)

The DENR is expected to release its decision on Lafayette today. Considering the uproar last Friday when civil society groups discovered that the DENR had managed to slide a “support mining” declaration into the 12 point Kabalikat sa Kalikasan program, and the DENR decision looks to have been ready made for it.
Sec. Reyes insists that the “the welfare of the Filipino people is taken into utmost consideration” while Lafayette has taken to clothing itself in patriotic colors.
Your special mining fact for the day: “The environment group Greenpeace earlier presented a report claiming residents of communities near Rapu-Rapu would gain only P2 a day out of the mine operations.”

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