Intex loses Mindoro Nickel Mining Permit

by Othel V. Campos
Source : Manila Standard Today
Nov.20,2009

Environment Secretary Lito Atienza yesterday suspended the environmental compliance certificate issued to the local unit of Norway’s Intex Resources ASA in Mindoro island.

“I have directed the Environmental Management Bureau to immediately suspend the ECC of the Mindoro nickel project until such time that a genuine public consultation shall have been undertaken involving the concerned local government units, the church and other interested groups,” Atienza said.

Local government leaders of Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro picketed the Environment’s office in Quezon City yesterday to protest the $2.4-billion nickel project of Intex’s local unit, Intex Resources Philippines Inc.

The department said it would create a team that will inspect the mining site to determine if it sits on a watershed as claimed by local governments.

Local officials and church representatives said there was no public consultation held with affected communities.

Officials and church representatives who attended the dialogue include Oriental Mindoro Gov. Arnan Panaligan, Occidental Mindoro Gov. Josephine Ramirez Sato, Oriental Mindoro Vice Gov. Estella Aceron, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Alfonso Umali Jr., Rep. Rod Valencia, mayors of affected municipalities, Bishops Broderick Pabillo and Warlito Cajandig, and Mangyan leader Librada Isidro.

The Environment Department approved last month the environmental clearance certificate of Intex for the Mindoro project located in the municipalities of Victoria, Pola and Socorro in Oriental Mindoro and Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro.

“The project has no social acceptability. We found it irresponsible and quite unusual of the [Environment Department] to grant an ECC without proper consultation with the host community,” said Sato.

The two provinces warned of the damage on Mindoro island’s agricultural economy.