* Mines open pending appeals "stuck" in cabinet office-Lopez
* Says fellow minister also stymied ban on ore stock removal
* Final decision on closures rests with President Duterte
* Philippines is world's top nickel ore supplier
By Enrico Dela Cruz
MANILA, April 19 (Reuters) - Philippine Environment Secretary Regina Lopez vented frustration on Wednesday that mines she ordered closed months ago remain open, aiming a broadside at a fellow minister whose office she blamed for slowing appeals that can only be resolved by President Rodrigo Duterte.
The blast underlined tensions within Duterte's cabinet since Lopez ordered the permanent closure of 22 of the country's 41 mines early in February as part of a crackdown in the world's top nickel ore exporter designed to protect water resources. Global nickel prices jumped on supply risks after the move, broadly supported by Duterte. told reporters on the sidelines of a mining forum on Wednesday that appeals by mine operators directly to Duterte have become "stuck" in the office of the president's Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.
"It's only the president that can make a decision, but right now he can't even decide because the papers don't go to his office," Lopez said.
The combative environment minister - whose appointment has still to be ratified by Congress nearly 10 months after Duterte named her to the post - also rounded on Medialdea for suspending her order last month that mines where operations were suspended last year can only ship out nickel ore stockpiles if they pay a fee of 2 million pesos ($40,248) per hectare of disturbed land.
"He (Medialdea) stopped me. So now they're (miners) removing the stockpiles and I cannot stop them," she said. Lopez she wanted to meet with Medialdea but that he hasn't agreed to meet.
"It's my prerogative as (environment) secretary to issue that directive," Lopez said. "I'm totally within my rights."
Medialdea did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Reuters reported last month that eight nickel miners suspended last year for environmental infractions were allowed to remove previously mined ore that could pose environmental hazards. But Lopez required them to put 2 million pesos per hectare of disturbed land into a trust fund "to further mitigate the adverse impacts of the mining operations to the environment and to the affected communities". have questioned the hefty fee and secured permits from Medialdea to stay the implementation of Lopez's order. reappointed Lopez this week after lawmakers deferred a decision to confirm or reject her appointment before Congress went into recess from March 18. They will resume hearings in May. ($1 = 49.6920 Philippine pesos)
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http://tmsnrt.rs/2kq8ke4
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