OceanaGold Corp T.OGC

Oceana still all the rage in Didipio vicinity

[psych01]

Take from this what you want; for me, it means that all the levels of government are communicating about Oceana.  In the article, no mention is made about closing the mine, but it can be inferred there is still robust opposition.  A positive is that the federal officials are at the table with locals and we know that the Office of the President has tasked people to faciliate the renewal of Oceana's FTAA.  It seems the local opposition (the minority of people) are concerned that Oceana is going to use the diesel fuel to continue pumping out the underground water, nothing more. I take that to be rather pathetic and petty---perhaps all the resistance can do as things gradually proceed to the inevitable resumption of mining.
 

 

Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Government

5h  · 

 

PGNV monitors OGPI’s fuel delivery

A task force group convened to closely monitor the transport and delivery of fuel/supplies to the Didipio mine site by OceanaGold (Philippines), Inc. (OGPI) which was chaired by Atty. Voltaire B. Garcia, Provincial Legal Officer together with For. Tito A. Tanguilig, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, on January 15, 2021 at Nueva Vizcaya Livelihood and Pasalubong Center, Brgy. Magsaysay, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.

Under Executive Order No. 114 series of 2020 dated December 11, 2020 , Gov. Carlos M. Padilla created the committee composing of Provincial Legal Officer as its Chairman and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer as its Co-Chairman with a representative each from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Philippine National Police (PNP), Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) of Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya and Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU) of Barangay Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya as its members.

The Didipio Mine has a pumping station that safely removes groundwater. The underground dewatering system requires sufficient diesel reserves and constant power to continue operating. There is a significant risk of environmental damage if the underground mine floods.

Issues and concerns regarding the immediate entry of fuel for the continued operation of dewatering activities of the Didipio Gold-Copper Mine were raised. Furthermore, OGPI should not be allowed to store fuel more than what it actually needs to avoid the conduct of mining operations. Atty. Garcia explained that the body needs to ensure that the authority given to OGPI which is to transport fuel solely for the purpose of water removal as an interim measure for preventing overflow of the mine is properly implemented.

Moreover, Atty. Garcia clarified to everyone the cogent need to discuss further the scheduling of transport of fuel to the Didipio Mine Site. A proper coordination especially to the PNP and barangay officials in Didipio will be necessary for a smooth delivery