Philex resumes Padcal operations

MANILA, Philippines - Philex Mining Corporation resumed operations of its copper-gold mine in Padcal, Benguet for rehabilitation purposes yesterday after obtaining the go-signal from the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB).

The PAB yesterday afternoon officially lifted the cease and desist order on the use of the compromised tailings pond (TP) No. 3, allowing Philex to rehabilitate the pond and prevent its possible collapse.

The PAB, like the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), gave the company four months to use the tailings pond.

“We will start probably by past midnight,” said Philex vice president for operations and Padcal resident manager Libby Ricafort yesterday afternoon, noting that preparatory activities were already being conducted.

Ricafort said the company would “fast-track” the rehabilitation process, operating the mine for 24 hours for the duration of the rehabilitation program, because they were given only four months instead of 4.7 months as requested.

During the four-month resumption of operations, Philex must send a report to the PAB on the progress of the rehabilitation program.

The company must also ensure the safety of TP3’s penstock B, which is still operational, to prevent the reoccurrence of a spill. In case another spill occurs, penstock B would be immediately plugged.

The MGB earlier allowed the company to resume operations of the mine for four months to conduct clean up and rehabilitation.

Philex’ foreign consultants recommended the beaching of the pond, a process that entails the dumping of 3.5 million metric tons of fresh tailings into the pond to push water away from the pond’s embankment into an open spillway.

In lifting the CDO, the PAB considered the assessment made by the MGB that it would be more disastrous if the company is not allowed to conduct its rehabilitation program.

The MGB noted that because the pond was designed to only hold solids, it may collapse under heavy rains that are expected to fall during the onset of the rainy season in the second half of the year.

Should the tailings pond collapse, 140 million tons of silt would spill into the Agno River.

In lifting the CDO, the PAB did not demand that Philex settle the fine of P92.8 million for violation of the Clean Water Act before it temporarily resumes operations.

Environment undersecretary and PAB presiding officer Demetrio Ignacio said the appeals process for the fine is continuing.

“The issuance of this order shall be without prejudice to the fines previously imposed by the Board against respondent, the discussion of which, shall be covered by a separate Order,” said PAB.