Oceana Gold has for the second time in a year rejected allegations of human rights abuses at its $418 million Didipio gold and copper development mine in the northern Philippines.
Oceana vice-president of corporate and investor relations Darren Klinck yesterday rejected the conclusion of articles which he said had recently appeared in the Philippine media claiming an inquiry by the Philippine Commission on Human Rights was under way at the Didipio development.
"While there are some people and organisations that are not supportive of extractive resource projects in general, the company continues to receive strong majority support from our many local, national and international stake-holders," Mr Klinck said in a statement yesterday.
In August last year, Oceana denied reports from the Philippines it had become embroiled in standoffs with anti-mining villagers and environmental groups.
Since then, it had reiterated it had full community support, however in late March a local police investigation was launched after a man received a superficial gunshot wound to his arm from an Oceana security contractor.
Reports on the claims, and counter-claims in Australian publications, said the Philippine Commission was probing claims Oceana forcibly demolished tribal housing and other alleged abuses, but Mr Klinck said yesterday the company had received "no correspondence or invitation" to participate in a commission inquiry.
Mr Klinck noted the Didipio project was subject to "extensive" review by the Philippine national Government and related offices to ensure Oceana was complying with its obligations.
In late June, Oceana suspended development of the crucial Didipio project as it sought to raise $US185 million ($NZ244 million), which could include a joint venture, merger or new share placement. Triple-listed in Toronto, Australia and New Zealand, Oceana has seen its share value plunge drastically during the past three and a-half months, losing more than 65% on the Australian exchange.
Despite its woes, chief executive Steve Orr remained bullish at the time, noting the company had $US95 million cash and the Didipio had a potential 22% rate of return on investment.
