Leyte mining firm told to stop operations after 'fish kill'

published May 16, 2012 in BusinessWorld

PALO, LEYTE -- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has suspended the operations of Nicua Mining Corp. after another fish kill occurred in Lake Bito on Saturday.


Regional Director Roger A. de Dios told Nicua officials in a meeting yesterday the suspension will last until measures are in place to ensure that runoff from the mining site in MacArthur town will not reach the mouth of the lake where fish pens are located.

"We want them to present measures in case of [another incident]. I will lift the temporary suspension order anytime this week as long as the firm will assure that they will strictly adhere to their risk management plan," he toldBusinessWorld.

Mr. de Dios said he relayed the suspension order by telephone to Nicua officials after receiving complaints from fishermen following Saturday’s incident.

He said mine tailings reached the lake after workers allegedly released the impounding water from the mine site.

"I admit that the company has failures in terms of design. Release of impounding water was done by workers without permission from the management. Murky water reached at least 20 meters from the mouth of Lake Bito. They have to guarantee that this will not happen again," he said.

Nicua officials refused to answer mobile phone calls from the media yesterday. Nicua has a 25-year permit to extract magnetite sand in the towns of MacArthur and Javier in Leyte. It has mined 100 of the 797 hectares that it is leasing.