MGB suspends mine project after storm

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has suspended the construction of a foreign-owned mining project in Quezon town after the facility was damaged by the onslaught of Typhoon “Lando” two weeks ago.

Mario Ancheta, MGB acting regional director in Cagayan Valley, directed Metals Exploration PLC, through its local subsidiary, FCF Minerals Corp., to stop construction and development work at its gold-molybdenum mining project in Runruno village.

“You are directed to implement immediately rehabilitation and cleanup of the area [as well as] submit and present your rehabilitation and cleanup plan,” Ancheta said in his letter to Craig Watkins, FCF Minerals country manager.

The suspension order came after a series of setbacks suffered by the Runruno project, which aims to exploit an estimated 1.39 million ounces of gold and 25.6 million pounds of molybdenum. Its projected start of commercial production this year had been delayed.

“The RSI (residual storage impoundment) failed to contain the volume of runoff water brought about by heavy rains and overflowed, causing some erosion,” Ancheta said on the telephone on Thursday. Melvin Gascon, Inquirer Northern Luzon