Mines Bureau: Chinese miner Nicua may have caused fish-kill in Leyte

Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director Leo Jasareno said Thursday that Nicua Mining Corporation, which is currently being investigated by the bureau for allegedly causing a fish-kill incident in Lake Bito in Leyte province as well as converting farmlands into a mining site without authorization, is a responsible miner and if it did cause the fish-kill, it may have done so accidentally.

 

“But nevertheless, the company has to answer for the disaster they may have caused,” Jasareno added.

 

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau, or MGB, launched an investigation two weeks ago, the results of which are expected shortly.

 

“The Bureau is just waiting for the result of the investigation. If found guilty, the company will be held liable for damages and will be placed, possibly, under temporary suspension,” Mines Bureau said Thursday.

 

Based on the initial assessment by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, domestic pollution, irresponsible aquaculture practices and oil and grease contamination from the mining operation are the factors that caused the fish-kill.

 

Nicua has been mining magnetite or black sand in the towns of MacArthur and Javier in Leyte since 2010. The company is the only large-scale magnetite miner in the Philippines with all its outputs exported to China. Magnetite is used for iron production. 

 

The mining permit is under the name of Vincent Tan Tiong who has a mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA) with the Philippine government.

 

According to the Mines Bureau, the Chinese mining company’s capital investments has reached $100 million. — DVM, GMA News