(The Philippine Star) | Updated August 17, 2016 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines –
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has directed Consunji-led
Semirara Mining and Power Corp. to explain within seven days why the company’s
environmental compliance certificate for its Molave coal extension project
should not be cancelled.
Based on the agency’s
fact finding last May, Semirara allegedly did not comply with one of the
conditions provided in its ECC relative to its Molave mine.
DENR said there was “no
proper stockpiling and disposal of the materials scooped out from the settling
ponds, and other solid wastes impermanent and stabilized areas to avoid
pollution of any water body and drainage systems.”
“Semirara has to get
its act together. While it’s producing the coal needed by the country, they
can’t adversely affect the lives of the farmers and fishermen,” Environment
Secretary Gina Lopez said.
Lopez earlier admitted
that closing Semirara would not be a piece of cake for the department since it
produces 90 percent of the coal and supplies 30 percent of the power
requirements of the country.
“It’s not that easy to
close because if we do that it will affect the electricity supply of the
country,” Lopez said.
“But the problem is that the boiler of their
coal plants are not designed to take on high quality coal. They are just using
low grade quality coal that’s making people sick,” she added.
Among the complaints
lodged against Semirara include degradation of water quality, siltation of
marine environment, damage of coral areas, presence of toxic contaminants in
the water, displacement of local residents, and unsafe working conditions of
workers, among others.
“Their mine wastes are
dumped along the coasts and the issue of pollution has to be addressed as
well,” Environment Undersecretary and mining audit team head Leo Jasareno said.
Semirara earlier
reiterated that it has been fully complying with all relevant laws and
regulations and that its mining and environmental protocols conform with the
conditions of its ECCs.
“We hope that our
company will be accorded due process throughout any pre- and formal audit
process of the government,” it said.
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