Philex Mining says wastewater overflow stopped, Padcal mine stays closed

Philex Mining Corp. said Monday the wastewater overflowing from its Padcal Mine tailings pond “has been contained” but “[e]mergency response procedures will continue to ensure minimal damage to the downstream communities…

 

“… [T]he company reiterates that the water and sediments that have been discharged from the tailings pond are safe and non-toxic and that no injuries or fatalities have been reported as a result of this incident,” the miner said in a statement released through the Philippine Stock Exchange.

 

The company stopped mining and milling operations at Padcal Mine in Benguet on Aug. 1, “as a precautionary measure after heavy rains for the past two weekends brought about by Typhoons  Ferdie (international code name, Vicente) and Gener (Soala) resulted in an unusual and heavy accumulation of rainwater in the tailings pond.”

 

Its engineering team, headed by president and chief operating officer Eulalio Austin Jr., “has successfully removed concrete stopboards at the penstock area of Tailings Pond. No. 3,” the statement read, citing a report by Austin to the Philex Mining board.

 

“Philex is exerting its maximum effort to address the accident discharge, and has mobilized the requisite resources in this regard,” the miner said.

 

The “accident” was reported to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau on Aug. 2, according to Philex Mining, noting, “MGB issued a cease operation order… until such time that the safety and integrity of the tailings pond is assured.

 

“The mine will be closed to allow for a full assessment of the situation and the implementation of necessary remediation measures,” the miner added. — VS, GMA News