Preparing for disaster

In celebration of the Month of the Ocean this May, Carmen Copper Corp. has taken measures to prepare for marine disasters such as oil spills before they happen.

On Friday, May 10, Carmen Copper trained 31 port personnel and safety officers on oil spill response at its own Sangi Port in Toledo City.

Sangi Port is Carmen Copper’s port facility where copper concentrates are loaded and shipped to smelters in China, Japan and the province of Leyte.

Experts from the Philippine Environmental & Technological Systems and Services Inc. provided the training on the proper use of the containment boom, including discussions about the types of oil that spill and its behavior, the hazards associated with oil spill and basic steps in spill control, among others.

In the afternoon, the team performed a simulation and actual deployment of the Sangi Port’s 300-meter oil spill containment boom acquired by Carmen Copper in 2017 to prepare for this kind of emergency.

This was also in compliance with the Bureau of Customs’ mandate to all port facilities to have a disaster preparedness and management plan in place.

A containment boom is a temporary floating barrier designed to contain marine spills and therefore protect the environment.

During an oil spill, a containment boom can protect critical areas, such as reefs and shorelines from the threats of oil slick and it can assist in easy recovery.

Carmen Copper, a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlas Mining operating the Toledo Copper Mine in Toledo City, is committed to sustainable mineral development through responsible operation. Through the company’s Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program, Carmen Copper ensures that its operations do not bring irreversible effects to the natural environment of Toledo.

Carmen Copper’s outstanding environmental management has garnered awards and recognitions from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association.