By Louise Maureen Simeon (The
Philippine Star) | Updated November 3, 2016 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines – Benguet Corp.
said no damage to property and individuals was reported following the leak of
50,000 metric tons (MT) of tailings materials in its Antamok mine last week.
In a disclosure to the local bourse,
Benguet said an intermittent leak of mine tailings was discovered in the
Antamok mine in Benguet following the heavy rains brought by Typhoon Lawin that
hit the northern part of the country.
“There have been no reports of
damage to private property or harm to individuals. We assure the public that
the mine tailings are non-toxic and safe,” the company said.
Based on initial investigation, the
mine tailings came from the Antamok tailings impoundment area and the leak
occurred in the drain tunnel of the underground Antamok mine which has not been
in operation since 1989.
Alongside the Mines and Geosciences
Bureau (MGB), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and local government unit,
Benguet is undertaking pre-emptive measures including construction of
containment dams downstream of the Liang River and the clean-up of spilled
tailings.
Benguet said laboratory tests
conducted showed no toxic substances were present in the water samples, which
means that the leaked tailings material was safe and inert.
The company is also pumping out the
water from the 440 open pit to minimize hydraulic pressure build-up,
constructing a counter drive to plug the Antamok drain tunnel and diverting the
surface inflow water away from the area.
According to Benguet, technical
studies have been going for possible tailings reprocessing project and
conversion of the open pit to water reservoir for a bulk water project,
engineered sanitary landfill and a waste to energy project.
The mine tailings area also serves
as catchment for mine tailings from small scale miners in the upstream,
following rampant unregulated small scale mining activities in the area.
In a separate disclosure, the
company said it received the mine audit report of its Acupan Mine in Itogon,
Benguet following the government’s industrywide audit.
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