The Alyansa Tigil Mina Blog

“No peaceful society can afford to neglect either respect for life or the fact that there is integrity to creation.” [PEACE WITH GOD THE CREATOR, PEACE WITH ALL OF CREATION, John Paul II]

On August 11, 2006, the M/V Solar I, the Philippines’ largest oil refiner, which was chartered by Petron, was carrying 2.4 million liters of oil to the southern island of Mindanao when it went down in unusually rough waters off Guimaras Island, several hundred kilometers south of the capital, Manila.

According to experts, 200,000 liters of oil have leaked from the tanker, contaminating a 24km2 area. The coastal towns of Nueva Valencia and Jordan on Guimaras Island, as well as Villadolid, Pulupandan and Bago on Negros Island have already been affected. Oil has contaminated more than 300 kilometers (200 miles) of coastline on Guimaras Island and is now threatening Negros, the country’s fourth-largest island, as well as Panay. The oil has also destroyed 454 hectares (1,120 acres) of mangroves and 58 hectares of seaweed farms. The spill is heading up through the Guimaras Strait. (Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI), August 20-25, 2006). (more…)

Ben Sharples - http://www.miningnews.net/StoryView.asp?StoryID=64673

Thursday, 31 August 2006

NEWMONT Mining says it has signed an agreement to end a blockade of its Yanacocha gold mine in Peru, while over the border there has reportedly been a “breakthrough” in contract negotiations at BHP Billiton’s Escondida copper mine in Chile. The gold major said the agreement was signed by a delegation from Yanacocha, the Peruvian Government and representatives of protesting community members, who were reportedly demanding jobs and clean water. (more…)

By Justin Huggler, Asia Correspondent, The Independent - http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article1222817.ece
31 August 2006

Bangladesh has been brought to a standstill by a general strike and violent protests against a British company’s plans to develop a huge open coal mine. Protesters accused the company, Asia Energy, of stripping Bangladesh of its resources and forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes.

One policeman was killed when he was hit by a stone, and several demonstrators were injured in police baton charges in the capital, Dhaka. At the weekend, six people were shot dead by security forces in a protest at the site of the proposed mine.

Asia Energy plc is planning a $1.1bn (£578m) investment in mining 570 million tons of coal at Phulbari, in northern Bangladesh. The company says the mine will earn Bangladesh billions of dollars in profit and provide much-needed fuel for power generation. It is negotiating for backing from the Asian Development Bank and the US Ex-Im Bank.

But the mine’s opponents say it will displace more than 100,000 people, destroy hundreds of thousands of trees and damage the environment. (more…)

By: Dorothy Kosich, Mineweb - http://www.mineweb.net/american_notes/982507.htm
31-AUG-06

RENO, NV (Mineweb.com) –The newly published Mining Information Kit for Aboriginal Communities should be required reading for any mining stakeholder, institutional or retail investor, NGO, regulator, journalist, hedge fund, student, academic, or any exploration or mining professional who has any interest in or dealings with the international mining industry.

While the goal of the kit is to increase the ability of aboriginal peoples to understand and participate in exploration and mining-related activities, it is a good introduction for anyone who currently is, or will eventually come, in contact with mining and exploration. (more…)

PIA Press Release -
http://www.pia.gov.ph/news.asp?fi=p060901.htm&no=11
09/01/2006

Tupi, South Cotabato (1 September) — A mining firm exploring for copper and gold joined Friday the Green Philippine Highways project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Sagittarius Mines, Incorporated provided 7,700 seedlings-1.5 percent of 516,000 seedlings needed for the massive tree planting campaign.

The company also formed its own “Green Army” composed of some 200 employees of SMI and members of SMI-sponsored community groups. They form part of the 5,280-km long “human chain” from Luzon to Mindanao.

“We agreed right away when DENR asked our assistance,” said Jose Sebua, SMI’s environment manager. “The company always supports projects for the protection of the environment.” (more…)

AFX -
http://www.hemscott.com/news/latest-news/item.do?newsId=35847944846321
2nd September 2006

LONDON - Rusina Mining NL, the AIM-listed mining firm, has announced several changes to the board today, with current part-time company secretary and finance director, Julian Tambyrajah resigning from both positions.

Rusina said external commitments prevent Tambyrajah from taking up the now-required fulltime company secretary’s role in line with the increasing demands which will come from the expected escalation of activity over the next 18 months on Rusina’s Acoje nickel project in the Philippines.

The company says the board will assume responsibility for such duties pending a fulltime company secretary and CFO appointment.

Meanwhile former chairman and current non-executive director Gordon Getley has resumed the chairmanship of Rusina, after temporarily standing aside to allow due conduct of recent shareholder meetings. newsdesk@afxnews.com

By Al Jacinto,
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/zam/2006/09/02/news/canadian.mining.firm.invests.p500m.in.zambo.sur.html
Saturday, September 02, 2006

A Canadian mining firm, TVI Resource Development Inc., said it will expand its current operation in the southern Philippines and has began exploring a remote mountain side in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur.

“We have already invested more than P500 million and is currently exploring for gold and other minerals in the hinterland village of Balabag in the town of Bayug,” Eugene Mateo, TVI president, said.

TVI is currently operating a gold mine inside a 500-hectare area in Canatuan Mountain in Siocon town in Zamboanga del Norte province. (more…)

By Bong Garcia,
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/zam/2006/09/02/news/canadian.envoy.grab.investment.opportunity.in.mining.html
Saturday, September 02, 2006

Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Sutherland has urged the Philippine government and the private sector to get a slice of the $50-billion worth of global investments in mining.

“The Philippine should get a good share of it,” Sutherland told the more than 500 businessmen at the opening of the 15th Mindanao Business Conference held at the Astoria Regency Convention Center in this city on Thursday night.

Sutherland said foreign mining companies are looking atn how the government and the mining firms operating in the Philippines perform.

“Big mining companies in the world including Canadians are watching the development of the mining companies operating in the country. They are watching to see what will happen,” he said. (more…)

Inquirer
08/27/2006

LEGAZPI CITY—Greenpeace activists have dared Lafayette Phil. and Sorsogon provincial officials to file charges of trespassing and prove their accusations that the international environmental group was out to sabotage the mining firm.

“We challenge them to provide evidence and give the names of people they are accusing of sabotage,” said Beau Baconquis, the Greenpeace campaigner for Southeast Asia.

Greenpeace members on board the group’s campaign ship, the MV Esperanza, paid a visit to Lafayette’s controversial copper and gold mine on Rapu-Rapu island off the coast of Albay province. (more…)

Inquirer
08/27/2006

SORSOGON CITY—The Mines and Geosciences Bureau urged Greenpeace International to furnish the agency a copy of its report alleging contamination at a creek near the mining area in Rapu-Rapu Island being operated by Lafayette Philippines Inc. (LPI).

On Thursday, Greenpeace released a statement claiming that tests conducted by its scientists confirmed “very high levels of toxic metals” in water samples collected from a creek allegedly contaminated by the Rapu-Rapu mining activity.

MGB Bicol director Reynulfo Juan said such report by the antimining group would remain a hearsay unless it could be verified and confirmed, saying it was not coordinated with the proper government agency. (more…)