Xstrata Nickel’s Loma Miranda project not a closed case: Mining chief

Santo Domingo.- Nickel mining at Loma Miranda isn’t a closed case, said Mining director Alexander Medina on Sunday, and affirmed that Xstrata Nickel Falcondo will conduct further studies and propose extraction techniques with lower environmental impact to request a new Environment Ministry permit, aimed at extracting 20 million tons of the ore.

He noted the Environment Ministry’s refusal to issue an environmental permit to Xstrata in June, when opposition to the project grew.

"Falconbridge indicated how it would do the job but faced opposition by sectors of La Vega, the Government requested a study by the UN Development Program,” Medina said, adding that Xstrata “will submit other studies showing modern extraction techniques and less environmental impact from now on," Medina said.