DOE clears Semirara’s Antique coal project

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) has given Consunji-owned Semirara  Mining Corp. the clearance to proceed with its coal production  activities at the North Panian area in Antique but cautioned the  company to maintain preventive safety measures.   

The North Panian area is 300 meters away from the site of a coal mining  wall that collapsed and killed at least five miners in February.   

“We allowed the coal mining operations to resume in the North Panian  area but not on the accident site. The North Panian area is more than  300 meters away from the accident site. We also asked them to be  careful so that what happened in west wall won’t happen in the  northern part,” said Energy Undersecretary Ramon Oca.   

The DOE, in an April 10 letter to Semirara, issued a  clearance to the company to proceed with its coal production  activities, provided that Semirara “maintain and closely monitor the  preventive measures to ensure stability of the west and north walls of  Panian Pit; control water seepages at the Panian west wall area and  continue the search and retrieval operation for the missing mine  workers.”

Furthermore, the energy department required Semirara to operate in  accordance with existing coal mine safety rules and regulations.   

“At the outset, we note that throughout the 13 years that you  operated the Panian mine, the following parameters and precautionary  measures were instituted: cut-off wall construction, dewatering wells,  observation wells and crack monitoring by extensometers and observers.  All of these proved to be adequate and served well prior to the  incident,” Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said in the letter.

Semirara sought the DOE’s clearance to proceed with its  coal production to meet its contractual and supply obligations to   power and cement plants in Cebu, Panay and Calaca.               

“In the North Panian area, based on the validation of our staff, you  have instituted notable improvements/measures for the stabilization of  the slope to ensure the smooth and safe operation,” Petilla said.   

In an earlier disclosure, the company said that it suspended the  mining operations at the Panian, Antique coal mining as it conducted  search and retrieval efforts.   

Semirara Mining, owned by DMCI Holdings Inc. of the Consunji Group is  a publicly listed company that has significant coal resources and  reserves to supply a growing demand.