JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The Didipio gold and copper mine, which the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) mine audit team earlier this year recommended for suspension, has scooped a prestigious environmental award.
Melbourne-based OceanaGold’s mine has been awarded the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award for a second consecutive year. The award recognises operations that perform to the “highest standards of safety, environmental and social management”.
The mine also scooped additional awards in minerals processing, safety and agroforestry.
The Didipio mine was named in the DENR’s nation-wide environmental mine audit for suspension. However, the mine audit report confirmed that Didipio complied with its permitting requirements and recommended that the mine expand its information, education and communication programme to educate a broader group of stakeholders on specific aspects of operations.
OceanaGold president and CEO Mick Wilkes said in a statement on Monday that the award reflected the company’s commitment to operate at the highest standards in health, safety and the environment.
“OceanaGold is honoured by this major achievement,” Wilkes stated.