Mining firm Intex Resources Philippines Inc. has so far invested about P140 million in its environmental protection and management initiatives at its Mindoro nickel project, according to company officials.
In a statement, the mining firm said the amount was spent from 2008 to June this year at the height of exploration and drilling activities at its mine site, which straddles the provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro.
A significant part of the investment was spent on a study to help mitigate the potential impacts of mineral exploration on the local community, Intex president Leo Cleto Gamolo said.
“The study was conducted by a host of Filipino and foreign experts, including environmental engineers, botanists, mining engineers, environmental project managers, biologists, social scientists, hydrologists and agro-foresters,” he said.
The environmental protection initiatives will help the company ensure that the Mindoro nickel project would set new standards for low-carbon emissions, independence from fossil fuels and environmental impact.
Intex said that one such study was led by the University of the Philippines Los Baños Foundation Inc. for an inventory of the island’s flora and fauna.
Lichtel Technologies Inc. undertook a social and environmental review, which became the cornerstone of the mine’s environmental impact study (EIS).
The EIS provides the framework for the mining firm’s environmental management plan, which identifies the predicted impacts (of the mining operations), the mitigating and enhancement measures, the responsible parties that will implement the mitigating measures, the schedule of implementation, and the guarantees or programs that will address the impacts.
The environmental protection and management measures encompass all stages of the mine life. These measures include land, water, air and noise pollution control, soil loss and erosion management, rehabilitation, and reforestation and environmental monitoring.
“Intex has also taken an interest in helping solve Mindoro’s perennial flooding problems—a major concern that has antedated our exploration activities on the island,” Gamolo said.
Intex commissioned Phillips Technical Consultants Corp., the consulting arm of FF Cruz Corp. and international water management expert DHI Water and Environment Sdn Bhd, to conduct a flood study for the Bucayao, Panggalaan and Mag-asawang Tubig Rivers in Oriental Mindoro.