CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / May 2, 2013) – The Alyansa Tigil Mina said it has information about a reported instability and subsidence of the external wall of Siana Mines tailings dam in Surigao del Norte province in southern Philippines.
It said a notice issued by the mining company Red5 also confirmed the report and declared that the milling operation was stopped in April 24 following further subsidence and movement in the area after 96 hours. It said the information was contained in a confidential report to the company’s shareholders on April 30.
“Regrettably, over the last 96 hours, further subsidence has been logged and the movement has not yet stabilized. Investigations have not yet established the cause,” ATM quoted the report.
Red 5 Limited has decided well in putting of the milling operations, according to ATM, but it demanded that updates and detailed information be submitted to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
It said this information should then be made publicly available as soon as possible to alert the communities and local governments hosting the mining project. Additionally, the MGB should immediately conduct an onsite investigation with the company and look into the instability concerns to mitigate any constructional or environmental damage. To avoid mine-related accidents, it is imperative that the situation be checked and monitored, ATM said.
“As Siana and MGB are liable to the public, we demand that information and regular updates on the particular concern be divulged through information alerts or media reports. We also demand immediate access to the site to do independent monitoring and fact-finding investigation of the reported occurrence,” ATM said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
Siana Gold Project, located in the village of Cawilan in Tubon town is an open pit mine. The mine promises 849,000 ounces of gold production in ten years.
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