NORWAY’S INTEX RESOURCES ASA is getting ready to defend the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for its Mindoro nickel project, according to president and CEO Erlend Grimstad.
In an e-mailed statement, the Intex chief said environmental studies and public consultations were addressed “extensively” during the Environmental Impact Assessment conducted over the last year while the company was in the process of applying for the ECC.
“The company is currently preparing a submission of the requested information to the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) office,” Grimstad said.
Since September 2007, Intex has conducted extensive environmental baseline and social scanning studies on the island of Mindoro, it said.
The environmental baseline studies covered assessment modules on freshwater biodiversity, marine ecology, health impact, meteorology/air and noise quality, a soils survey and land-use study, and reports on the area’s geology and geomorphology, hydrology and hydrogeology, and oceanography, among others.
Complementing the environmental baseline studies were socioeconomic and cultural heritage assessment studies, as well as public consultations with stakeholders.
Intex said consultations with stakeholders included a public scoping on Oct. 10, 2008 in the impact barangay of Villa Cerveza in Victoria, Oriental Mindoro, a public hearing conducted by the Environmental Management Bureau on May 15, 2009 in the municipality of Pola, Oriental Mindoro where the proposed plant will be located and a public consultation on May 27, 2009 in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro for feedback from stakeholders in the province.
Project manager Jake Foronda also said in an interview that the company is proceeding with studies needed to secure financing that will push the project forward.
Intex has just completed its first limonite ore reserve estimate for the Mindoro nickel project. The study shows a 96-percent conversion rate from measured and indicated resources to proved and probable reserves.
A feasibility study for the Mindoro nickel project is currently in the works. The study is set to be completed by February 2010.
Meanwhile, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza told reporters on Friday that the ECC was suspended so that local officials in Mindoro can thresh out their concerns with Intex while the project is still in the exploratory stage. Atienza said that he cannot simply cancel the ECC as called for by some parties.
