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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. COAL MINING ISSUES IN THE PHILIPPINES. by Alicia N. Reyes 7 th CASM Annual Conference Ulaanbatar, Mongolia. POLICY.
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY COAL MINING ISSUES IN THE PHILIPPINES by Alicia N. Reyes 7th CASM Annual Conference Ulaanbatar, Mongolia
POLICY DOE Circular 87-03-001 and amendments thereof provide the guidelines and procedures for the implementation of a program that will allow small-scale coal mining by providing less stringent and socio-economically sensitive regulations. The program recognizes that small-scale coal operations are socio-economic projects easily accessible to the local community.
POLICY • Application limited to residents of the host • barangay, city/municipality or province • Maximum area of 5 hectares • Maximum coal reserve of 50,000 MT • Term of permit -5 years renewable for another 5 years • Should be supervised by a nearby or host large-scale • coal operator • Otherwise, must operate as an independent permittee with own • technical personnel • Proposed mining operation should have consent from Barangay • Captain and/or Municipal Mayor
POLICY • Operations must comply with applicable safety rules and • regulations on coal mining • Permittee to remit 3% of the gross sales to the Government • as royalty • Secure the Environmental Compliance Certificate • through an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) Checklist • (Memorandum Circular No. 005 of the Department of • Environment and Natural Resources)
STATISTICS • There are currently 43 mining permits located in 8 provinces namely: • Quezon • Bicol • Masbate • Cebu • Negros Oriental • Negros Occidental • Zamboanga Sibugay • Surigao del Sur • These operations would employ approximately a total of 1,290
STATISTICS • Coal production from SSCM operations in 2006 was 72,957 MT translating to 2.82% of the total domestic coal production • Records of total government share from SSCM for the last five years are as follows: • 2002 P 409,575.79 • 2003 662,523.64 • 2004 928,134.22 • 2005 2,153,407.20 • 2006 2,799,663.27
Small-Scale Coal Production Philippines 1990-2006
BENEFITS OF SSCM • Livelihood is provided in the host community where economic activity is further stimulated by small-scale coal mining operations by way of coal sale proceeds, right-of-way payments, mine workers’ wages, loading/unloading contracts, hauling fees and small convenience stores that cater to workers needs. • Employment generation as local residents are hired for the mine operation except for the mine foreman, safety or mining engineer. • Increase in industry investments as coal mine facilitates operation of certain industries such as coal power plants, cement plants and other industrial uses. • Foreign exchange savings from displaced oil importation • Increased self-sufficiency in energysupply • Government royalties. It is commendable to note that there is only a small percent of delinquency among SSCM permittees in the payment of government shares.
ISSUES/RISKS • Inactivity at the Minesite • Geological Problem – coal seam is lost or pinches out • Accessibility - difficulties in the hauling of coal • Financial - lack of capital to pursue mining operations • Marketing - difficulty in closing a sale and getting a good • price for the coal in view of small volume of produce • (Low wage problem for miners)
ISSUES/RISKS • Regulatory • Illegal coal mining • Misinformation - land owners believe their right extends to the natural resources beneath their property • Improved coal demand – a lot of small industries are converting from oil-fired to coal-fired • Safety violations – related to financial constraints (lack of • personal safety equipment, paraphernalia such as gas detectors, • below standard shaft openings)
Conclusions • Small-scale coal mining operation requires capital not • normally afforded by ordinary citizens such that the • business is normally held by prominent locals as law provides only • for individual applicants. • No significant improvement in the life of the miners as the • wage provides for only hand-to-mouth existence • ( cannot even cope with minimum wage) • Increased/improved coal price does not result to more benefits for workers • More active information campaign and monitoring by the • Government is needed to discourage illegal mining and ensure • safe coal mining operations