MARCVENTURES Holdings Inc. on Friday said it received the green light from a government agency to resume its full mining operations and commercial production in Surigao del Sur.
The company said the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) declared the feasibility of the mining project of its unit Marcventures Mining and Development Corp.
The MGB approved the declaration of mining-project feasibility of Marcventures, and the agency also allowed the company to proceed with the development that may include extraction and commercial sale of nickel ore and other minerals within its contract area. Among the conditions, the company should secure the approval for its mining feasibility study that covers three-year development and utilization work program, environmental protection and enhancement program, and final mine rehabilitation and decommissioning plan within 60 days after its receipt of the order.
The penalty for mining for nickel ore outside the designated area may include planting at least 3 million seedlings in areas identified by the agency for the next two years and ensure the survival of not less than 80 percent of the seedlings.
The order was released on October 15 and signed by MGB Director Leo Jasareno.
In 1993 a mineral-production sharing agreement (MPSA) was reached between the government and Ventura Timber Corp. for the exploration, development and utilization of copper and other mineral deposits in a contract area of 4,799 hectares in Cantilan, Carrascal and Madrid in Surigao del Sur. Ventura and Marcventures signed a deed of assignment in 1995.
A decade later, the government canceled nonperforming mining tenements that included those of Ventura and Marcventures. The companies then requested for reconsideration of the cancellation.
The MGB reinstated its MPSA some two years later.
In 2008 Marcventures filed the partial declaration of mining-project feasibility (DMPF) under its contract that covers the 300-hectare portion of the area.
Earlier this year in April, however, the multidisciplinary team of the DENR ordered Marcventures to stop mining operations in the portion of its contract area not included in its DMPF. The order was handed down just as the government was evaluating the company’s application for the third renewal of its exploration period.
To date, the company said it has done exploration work on 1,610 hectares and has performed mining operations on 82.83 hectares on the area covered by the MPSA.