SMI pushes back Tampakan project

MANILA, Philippines - Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) which is pursuing the $5.9-billion copper-gold project in Tampakan, South Cotabato, is postponing the targeted start of commercial operations of the mine in 2016 because of unresolved issues with the government.

“Our project has experienced a number of challenges, particularly in the past 12 months,” said SMI communications manager John Arnaldo.

“These include the current denial of the Mine Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources; restrictions on field activities resulting from security issues in the project area; the ongoing uncertainty created by a provincial ordinance that is in conflict with national law and the need to reconsider our preferred power supply options for the project,” he added.

SMI has a pending appeal before Malacañang for the provision of an Enviromental Compliance Certificate (ECC), a key document that will enable it to start operations.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has repeatedly denied SMI an ECC because of a standing ordinance in South Cotabato banning the use of open-pit mining method.