MANILA, Nov 18 (Reuters) - The Philippine government on Wednesday suspended a mining permit given last month to the $2.4 billion nickel project of Norwegian firm Intex Resources ASA following opposition from local communities.
'I have directed the Environmental Management Bureau to immediately suspend the environmental compliance certificate of Mindoro Nickel Project until such time that a genuine public consultation shall have been undertaken involving the concerned local government units, the Church and other interested groups,' Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza said in a statement.
The provincial government of Mindoro, an island in the central Philippines, said there was no consultation between the government, Intex and the local communities on the mining project, which residents say sits on a watershed.
About two dozen people, including members of a tribal community, priests, local officials and some residents began a hunger strike in front of the environment ministry from Tuesday to force the government to revoke the mining permit.
The mine has estimated reserves of more than 2 million tonnes of nickel. Intex secured its mining permit on Oct. 14.
The Philippine government had scrapped a permit for the same nickel project in 2001 after finding out that the mine site was located on a watershed.
The Southeast Asian country is targeting its mining sector, one of the world's largest and most lucrative in the early 1970s, to attract up to $14.5 billion in investments by 2013.
But only around $2.4 billion has flowed in since 2004 due to communist insurgencies, disputes with communities and local partners and opposition from the Catholic Church.
(Reporting by Manolo Serapio Jr.; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
((manolo.serapio@thomsonreuters.com; +632 841 8936; Reuters Messaging: manolo.serapio.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: PHILIPPINES MINING/ (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
'I have directed the Environmental Management Bureau to immediately suspend the environmental compliance certificate of Mindoro Nickel Project until such time that a genuine public consultation shall have been undertaken involving the concerned local government units, the Church and other interested groups,' Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza said in a statement.
The provincial government of Mindoro, an island in the central Philippines, said there was no consultation between the government, Intex and the local communities on the mining project, which residents say sits on a watershed.
About two dozen people, including members of a tribal community, priests, local officials and some residents began a hunger strike in front of the environment ministry from Tuesday to force the government to revoke the mining permit.
The mine has estimated reserves of more than 2 million tonnes of nickel. Intex secured its mining permit on Oct. 14.
The Philippine government had scrapped a permit for the same nickel project in 2001 after finding out that the mine site was located on a watershed.
The Southeast Asian country is targeting its mining sector, one of the world's largest and most lucrative in the early 1970s, to attract up to $14.5 billion in investments by 2013.
But only around $2.4 billion has flowed in since 2004 due to communist insurgencies, disputes with communities and local partners and opposition from the Catholic Church.
(Reporting by Manolo Serapio Jr.; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
((manolo.serapio@thomsonreuters.com; +632 841 8936; Reuters Messaging: manolo.serapio.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: PHILIPPINES MINING/ (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.