Philex plugs tailings leakage

Itogon, Banquet , Philippines – Philex Mining Corp. has plugged the leak in its Padcal mine tailings pond 3 in Itogon, Benguet and has reportedly stopped the sediment flow that has affected downstream.

Operations have been suspended since August, and the company is being fined for P1 billion, and yet its woes aren’t over yet as the Environment Management Bureau is faulting Philex Mines for violating a provision in its environment compliance certificate (ECC), due to the leakage to the water systems.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Philex Mines said it has received a “notice of adverse findings” from the EMB.

The EMB in its notice said “it was found out that Condition No. 2 of the original ECC was violated which states ‘Pond effluent discharges shall conform with the standards set forth under RA 9275 otherwise known as the Clean Water Act of the Philippines.”

Philex Mining has been slapped with a daily fine of P50,000 starting last August 1 this year, when the tailings leakage was first reported.

Several other leakage incidents reportedly came after the first during Gener.

Though the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has reported that the leak has been already sealed, Philex’s operations remain suspended, said Felizardo Gacad Jr. of the MGB-CAR Mine Safety and Environment Division.