Nickel Asia Corp. said Thursday it received a copy of the official findings and recommendations of the audit conducted by the Environment Department on wholly-owned subsidiary Hinatuan Mining Corp.
Nickel Asia said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the audit team cited alleged violations of two conditions in HMC’s environmental compliance certificate. HMC operates a nickel mine in the island of Manicani in Eastern Samar.
The mining audit team earlier said HMC was one of the 20 mines which were recommended for suspension.
Nickel Asia said that based on the report of the audit team, HMC shall “limit clearing of vegetation within planned areas to be mined and conducting revegetation reforestation on idle lands in the site with endemic species to provide carbon sink and restore biodiversity.”
The mining company, however, said that HMC had not conducted clearing of vegetation outside the planned areas to be mined, rehabilitated 55 hectares of mined-out areas and forested 368 hectares outside of mined-out areas that had no forest cover due to the poor soil condition.
“A total of 811,000 seedlings of various species including those endemic to the island was planted,” Nickel Asia said.