Chinese
conglomerate Hongda Group and its subsidiaries have confirmed their right to
mine phosphate in the southwestern province of Sichuan, though they did not
specify whether company mines were located in panda habitats, the
Guangzhou-based 21st Century Business Herald reports.
The
production of phosphate chemical companies has triggered concern over damage to
the environment, said geologist Yang Yong.
Jiudingshan,
one site facing encroachment from mining companies, was originally designated
as a protected panda habitat. Part of the area is being withdrawn from
protected zones, the report said.
In August
last year, about 300 hectares of panda habitat in Jiudingshan was withdrawn
from an area restricted from exploration. The area is prime property for
phosphate mining, said Greenpeace official Lang Xiyu, who had visited the area
several times during 2012-2013.
Hongda
chief engineer Yang Shouming confirmed that the group owns the mining rights in
the mountain region through some newly invested subsidiaries, but did not
comment as to whether they fell into the newly opened territory, the report
said.
It was only
after a reporter from the newspaper dug through government records that a
document was uncovered confirming that the 325 hectares of land was withdrawn
after a request from a Hongda subsidiary was filed with the government.
Since 2010,
one ton of phosphate now sells for 500-600 yuan (US$80-$97) from a previous
price of just below 100 yuan (US$16), the report said.
Hongda
currently produces 500,000 tons of phosphate a year, all purchased from other
mining companies, said the company's chief engineer. The potential value of the
Jiudingshan area is obviously tantalizing to the group, the report said.
It is a
fight between ecology and economy, Yang Yong said.
According
to Sichuan's economic development plan, the province's phosphate production
capacity is expected to reach 1,359 tonnes a year by 2015, the report said.
Related Articles:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.