Semirara Mining suspends coal exports

Sunstar Manila
Wednesday, July 22, 2015

THE Semirara Mining and Power Corporation has suspended its coal export shipments starting Wednesday, July 22.
The company said the suspension was in response to the Department of Energy's (DOE) directive to prioritize the requirements of domestic coal consumers, pending investigation on the cause of landslide at North Panian on July 17 in Semirara Island, Antique where nine people died.
"We have notified our foreign customers that we cannot schedule further shipments until DOE reaches a decision on the suspension of our mining operations," it said in a statement.
It reassured government authorities of its full cooperation in the investigation.
"We will do everything we can to manage our limited coal inventory to avert possible supply disruptions to our local power plant and cement customers," the firm added.
Semirara Mining supplies 90 percent of the country's coal production.
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) said the families of the nine fatalities will receive P100,000 livelihood assistance from the government.
“We have finalized the initial assistance to be provided the families of the nine landslide victims. Some of them would like to engage in livestock farming while some of them would like to engage in trading and grocery sale,” said Dole-Western Visayas Director Ponciano Ligutom.
Ligutom also reminded the company management that mine workers who are not working, or on standby, because of the work stoppage order by the DOE, must continue to receive salaries.
Dole records showed the company has 608 employees working in two shifts. (SDR/FP/Sunnex) source