Updated January 2, 2020, 10:20 AM By MYRNA M.
VELASCO
The Department of Energy (DOE) has
finally lifted the suspension order on the Consunji-owned Semirara Mining and
Power Corp. allowing the resumption of the company’s coal mining operation,
which was suspended only in November this year.
The company said it received the
order lifting the suspension verdict last December 26. The DOE decision also
gave the company the go-signal to recommence operations.
The energy department, nevertheless,
qualified that SMPC cannot do mining operations yet “in the area adjacent of
the former Casay Lake until such time that all liquefiable materials in the
area have been removed.”
In lifting the suspension order, the
DOE stipulated that the Consunji firm “substantially complied with all the
conditions of its directive,” as specified in the DOE’s order on November 14,
2019.
The block covering the suspended
mining operations had been under SMPC’s coal operating contract number 5. At
that time, the DOE ordered the company’s stoppage of operations due to “mudflow
incident” at the Semirara Island last October.
Following the issuance of the
suspension order, several conditions had been imposed by the energy department
– and compliance to such shall serve as its basis on allowing the company’s
resumption of operations. Primarily, SMPC was required to “address the existing
and continuing apparent risk in the Casay Lake area near and adjacent to the
operations of the Molave pit.”
The Consunji firm had been further
instructed to conduct “geo-hazard assessment of the Casay Lake area,” and was
similarly required to carry out “specific plan to remove the hazard.” Such, it
was noted, shall be subject to the evaluation and approval of the DOE.
SMPC had been further ordered to
“conduct a comprehensive review of health and safety program which must
include: Management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification and
assessment, hazard prevention and control, education and training, program
evaluation, and improvement and coordination and communication.”
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