The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has granted an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) to Citinickel Mines and Development Corporation in connection with its Pulot Nickel Mining Project in three barangays in Sofronio Española town in Palawan.
In his June 19 letter to Caroline Tanchay, Citinickel president, DENR secretary Jose Atienza, Jr. said the DENR has given the virtual green light for Citinickel to proceed with its planned nickel mining project there after "satisfying the requirements" and upon recommendation of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).
Citinickel holds the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) that covers the 2,200 hectare sprawling nickel-rich mining concession in the towns of Narra and Sofronio Española in Palawan.
Citinickel’s project description said its newly issued ECC covers the mining and direct shipment of 1.2 million metric tons of nickel ore in an area that covers 1,408 hectares of its mining concession in Sofronio Española.
The project has the following components:
1. Mining, development, and operations limited to waste stripping, ore extraction, loading, hauling, drilling, crushing operations and shipment;
2. Construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of mine haul and access roads; and
3. Construction and operations of mine structures and support facilities such as stockyards, equipment yard and office, camp site and assay system, drainage system, waste dump areas, settling ponds, and other silt and erosion control infrastructures.
Earlier, Citinickel has entered into an agreement with the Palawano and Tagbanua, two ethnic communities that exercise ancestral domain rights over the mining area, and the accord mandates Citinickel to exercise responsible mining practices and the two ethnic communities to protect its personnel and kick out the intruders in the mining area.
The ECC enjoins Citinickel to institute appropriate measures to minimize any adverse impact, which the nickel mining could bring to the environment. It mandates Citinickel to follow and observe "good vegetative practices, proper land use and sound soil management" throughout the implementation period.
Click here to view Citinickel's ECC
