Mining firm’s nickel seized

THE ENVIRONMENT department seized 200,000 metric tons of "illegally mined" nickel ore at the private pier of mining firm A3 Una Corporation in Sta. Cruz, Zambales. The minerals were seized on Feb. 8 by a team made of up the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Philippine National Police, the Environment department said in its statement. MGB Region 3 Director Anselmo Abungan, who joined the team, said in the statement the group seized approximately four boatloads of nickel ore estimated to be worth $4 million, after the company failed to show evidence that they were legally sourced. "We will not release these minerals until the company submits documents showing that the minerals were legally sourced, such as ore transport permits (OTP), mining permits, operating agreements and the like," Mr. Abungan said. He added that failure to show the necessary documents can hold the company liable for theft of minerals, punishable by up to six years imprisonment. Encroachment Four mining companies reportedly complained that A3 Una has been mining in their permit areas, without their consent, using small-scale mining permits. The complainants were Zambales Chromite Mining Corp. (ZCMC) Eramen Minerals, Inc., Benguet Corp., and Filipinas Mining Corporation (FMC). ZCMC, Eramen and Benguet have valid and existing Mineral Production Sharing Agreements in Sta. Cruz, while FMC has prior right over the area by virtue of a pending MPSA application. Environment Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Jr. earlier ordered the MGB, the Environmental Management Bureau and the DENR Region 3 to conduct a joint investigation based on these complaints. — EBD, BusinessWorld