Dominican Republic: Fears over the Future with Falcondo
Published by MAC on 2012-01-31Source: Diaro Libre, Dominican Today
The Loma Miranda mineral deposit is located some 17km southeast of the city of La Vega and 22km north of the city of Bonao.
According to its owner, Xstrata-Falcondo, the deposit contains 22.9 million tonnes of ore grading 1,44% of nickel.
Development of Loma Miranda could extend Falcondo's mining and smelting operations in Dominican Republic for another 20 years.
Ecologists and local people fear that solid wastes and gases, resulting from the expansion, will accelerate degradation of the soil and the air, as well as negatively impact on the vital Jima River.
Previous post on MAC: La Vega claims that Xstrata/Falcondo contaminates
Worry in Bonao and La Vega over mining exploration
They warn that mines exploited by Falcondo will affect Jima River
Diaro Libre
13 January 2012
La Vega - The mining exploitation at the Loma de Miranda by the Falcondo Xstrata Nickel Company has generated some worry in the provinces of La Vega and Monsignor Nouel over the effects of this initiative will have on the environment.
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| Protests against Falcondo expansion plans in Dominican Republic. Source: http://bonaocityrd.blogspot.com |
Ecologists and neighbors of the area fear that the solid wastes and gases of the exploitation will accelerate the degradation of the soils and the air in the area.
The working of the mine supposedly would impact the Jima River, which is the source of the drinking water for the communities along the Lower Yuna Basin.
The coordinator of the movement called "the Committee Pro Healthy Watershed" of the province of Monsignor Nouel, Eduardo Garcia, said that the project will affect strongly the flora and fauna of the region.
"Wherever there is an open pit exploitation of a mine the air and soils are contaminated," said the environmentalist.
Nevertheless, a manager of Falcondo Xstrata Nickel, Luis Jose Lopez, denied that the project will have a devastating effect on the natural resources.
"We have a plan of progressive mining, instead of opening and removing the topsoil from different places, we only open on place that is reforested before moving to another point," explained Lopez.
He said that the material used by Falcondo in its production process is running out, but with the exploitation of Miranda they can guarantee 23 years more of the company's operation.
"Soon we will be delivering the environmental impact study of the project, which is being carried out by a highly qualified foreign company," said Jose Lopez.
Still the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources has not granted the definitive permits for the exploitation of the Loma de Miranda to the mining company.
Antonio Bruno, a country resident in the area, who is 76 years old, said that his main fear is that the exploitation of the mine will contaminate the Jagüey River, which brings him his drinking water.
"Can you imagine, if they contaminate the river, where will we have to go to get water," warned the old man.
Deputy demands
As he addressed a press conference in the Congress, the PRD deputy for La Vega, Elpidio Infante, said he would ask the Chamber of Deputies to designate a commission to monitor the concessions, licenses or permits that the Dominican state grants to the Falcondo mining company. He suggested that a special commission monitor the Loma de Miranda project. He asked for, besides all this, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to order the provisional suspension of the removal of nickel by the mining company in the Loma de Miranda, until the investigations are completed.
Lawmaker wants oversight of Canadian miner's contracts
Dominican Today
23 January 2012
Santo Domingo - The Chamber of Deputies plans to designate a special commission to oversee the mining contracts with the Canadian company Falcondo (Falconbridge), especially the Loma de Miranda Project to extract nickel in central Monseñor Noel and La Vega provinces, and to avert the destruction of more than 60 water sources which supply more than 20,000 people.
The request submitted by deputy Elpidio Infante, of the opposition PRD party for La Vega, affirms that the disappearance of the water sources would directly affect the development of those regions. He said Falcondo's persist nickel extraction for more than 20 years is the main reason for the disappearance of native fauna, flora and vegetation and the life of forests, whose water sources benefit the entire nation.
"Congressional intervention becomes is to control the contractual conditions and compliance of mining contracts to prevent extreme harm to the State and to keep the communities near these mountains from disappearing," said the lawmaker, whose proposed legislation includes photos showing the alleged damages to the environment.