SMI embarks on extensive ESIA specialist studies for the Tampakan Copper-Gold Project

Sagittarius Mines has recently begun extensive specialist studies for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of its world class Tampakan Copper-Gold project located in southern Philippines.

Speaking at the 18th Mindanao Business Conference in Koronadal City, SMI Corporate-Community Sustainability Manager Elvie Grace Ganchero said that a USD 74 million Feasibility Study (FS) and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) had commenced into the Tampakan project.

“As we embark on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, a range of specialist studies on environmental and social aspects are underway. To ensure a well-informed environmental management plan, all the studies are being conducted by international and local experts who are recognized as authorities in their fields,” said Ganchero.

In August this year, international experts conducted the soil and land capability study to determine the properties of the soil within the project area, and its suitability for use in post-mining rehabilitation. Local experts from the University of the Philippines at Los Banos assisted in the study. Another group of experts conducted the survey of flora and fauna to determine the ecological importance of the proposed mine area, and develop appropriate conservation programs for these plant and animal species.

The University of Queensland and its local counterpart, Visayas State University are now working on a robust forest rehabilitation and management program.

SMI has also conducted extensive studies of water (hydrology) and aquatic biology that commenced before the ESIA phase. SMI has collected more than two years of high quality data on these environmental components through international experts from Hydrobiology.

Upcoming studies on air, noise, rehabilitation, waste management, terrestrial biology, water, health and visual impacts, and socio-economic impacts will all be conducted by specialists in each of these areas.

“In parallel with the FS and ESIA, we continue our best practice of regularly consulting the various stakeholder groups that may be directly or indirectly affected by our proposed operation.

"This transparent and open engagement will ensure that all stakeholder concerns are gathered and considered in the conduct of our technical studies, and eventually, in the development of plans to mitigate and manage the effects of our operation,” said Ganchero.

Subject to the completion of a positive final feasibility study and all necessary community, government and company approvals, SMI estimates production may start by 2016 of what could be the biggest mine in the Philippines, and one of the top copper producers in the world.