DoE suspends Semirara Mining’s Antique operations
Credit to Author: Jordeene B. Lagare| Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2019 12:30:14 +0000
THE Department of Energy (DoE) has suspended the mining activities of Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) on Semirara Island, Antique province after a mudslide there killed one person early last month.
In a disclosure on Wednesday, the Consunji-led company said it received on Tuesday a letter from the DoE dated Nov. 14, 2019, directing the company to suspend these activities under Coal Operating Contract (COC) 5.
“In compliance with this directive, the company has suspended its mining operations effective immediately,” Semirara Mining said.
The DoE issued the order after a mudslide hit Semirara Mining’s coal mining facility on the island on October 2. An employee went missing as a result and was found dead two days later.
The suspension will remain in effect until Semirara Mining complied with certain conditions, which includes addressing the existing and continuing apparent risk in the Casay Lake area near and adjacent to the operations of the Molave Pit.
It must also conduct a geohazard assessment of the lake area and submit a specific plan to remove that hazard.
It must also implement a comprehensive review of health and safety program, which must include management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification and assessment, hazard prevention and control, education and training, program evaluation and improvement and coordination and communication.
Since the mudslide, Semirara Mining has been closely coordinating and cooperating with the DoE on all its legal and regulatory compliance, particularly the safety aspect of its operations.
“Our company is completing these requirements for submission to the DoE [at] the soonest [possible time] and is confident that the conditions for resuming operations can be speedily met,” Semirara Mining said.
“SMPC is committed to providing all the needed health and safety trainings and amendments to further enhance the safety and welfare of our employees,” it added.
Semirara Mining shares fell by P1.55 or 6.62 percent to end at P21.85 each on Wednesday.