Metals Exploration Regulatory News (MTL)

METALS EXPLORATION PLC

RUNRUNO GOLD - MOLYBDENUM PROJECT

AWARD OF Environmental Compliance Certificate

Metals Exploration Plc ("Metals Ex" or the "Company"), the Pacific Rim natural resources exploration and development company, is pleased to announce the award of the Environmental Compliance Certificate ("ECC") for the Runruno Gold-Molybdenum Project on the island of Luzon in the northern Philippines.

Overview:

§ ECC signed by Acting Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ("DENR") under Presidential Decree No. 1586 (known as the "Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System")

§ The ECC was issued after satisfactory evaluation of the project's Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS") by the Environmental Management Bureau ("EMB")

§ The ECC and EIS process has been conducted with the full participation and involvement of the local community and all relevant stakeholders

§ Under the ECC the Company is committed to implement measures presented in the EIS to protect and mitigate against any adverse impacts on the health and welfare of community and the environment

§ Securing the ECC is a significant milestone following the award of the Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement in October 2009, demonstrating continued support from the Philippine Government for the development of the Runruno project

Environmental Compliance Certificate

The ECC is a document issued by the DENR and the EMB after a positive review of an ECC application, certifying that the proposed project will not cause significant negative environmental impact. The ECC also certifies that the project has complied with all the requirements of the Environmental Impact Statement System and that the Company has committed to implement its approved Environmental Management Plan.

The EIS System is concerned primarily with assessing the direct and indirect impacts of a project on the biophysical and human environment and ensuring that these impacts are addressed by appropriate environmental protection and enhancement measures.

The Company has been responsible for managing the environmental approvals and permitting process for the project throughout.

Under the "Implementing Rules and Regulations ("IRR") for the Philippine EIS System", project sponsors are encouraged to "initiate public consultations early in order to ensure that environmentally relevant concerns of stakeholders are taken into consideration in the study and the formulation of the management plan".

Consequently, in March 2009 a public scoping meeting was held where information about the project was presented to various stakeholders, and any concerns were noted during public consultation. An explanation of the EIS process was also covered, and the active involvement of stakeholders was encouraged throughout the remainder of the process.

This was followed by the preparation by the Company of the project EIS that detailed the baseline environmental conditions and potential impacts to the project area, as well as the safeguards designed to minimise any adverse effects on the health and welfare of the community and the environment.

The results of the EIS were presented in public consultations which took place in Runruno and the nearby town of Solano in October 2009. These were attended by over five hundred (500) people from the Runruno and surrounding communities, as well as representatives from the Barangay, Municipal and Provincial government bodies.

The EIS was then submitted to the EMB and was jointly reviewed by the members of the Environmental Impact Assessment Review Committee ("EIARC") that were guided by three general criteria:

1) That environmental considerations are integrated into overall project planning;

2) That the assessment is technically sound and that the proposed environmental mitigation measures are effective; and

3) That social acceptability is based on informed public participation. 

The social acceptability of a project is a result of "meaningful public participation", which is defined as an "open, transparent, gender-sensitive, and community-based process aimed at ensuring the social acceptability of a project or undertaking, involving the broadest range of stakeholders". 

The issuance of the ECC was recommended after a thorough review by the EIARC. This was followed by an endorsement by the EMB Director for final review and approval by the DENR Secretary.

Jonathan Beardsworth, Managing Director, commented:

"The award of the ECC marks yet another key milestone for the Runruno project and, following the granting of the FTAA in October last year, further demonstrates that the permitting and regulatory process in the Philippines is effective, and that the Company is able to operate effectively within it.

"The award of the ECC is also further and welcome endorsement of the Company's long standing commitment to responsible environmental stewardship and community support, as evidenced by a number of national and international awards in the last few years." 

Enquiries: