Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo T. Reyes will visit the Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Mine on Rapu-Rapu Island,
Albay early next week to personally validate the company’s compliance with the environmental conditions and other safeguards set by his Department before the mining firm is allowed to operate on a commercial scale.

“I would like to personally see what the company has done, particularly its compliance with the environmental conditions after a test-run,” Reyes said.

Joining Reyes in his visit to the mining site are third-party experts and observers who will also ascertain the manner in which the firm conducts its mining operations and its compliance with environmental regulations.

Leading the team of third-party experts is Marcelo Bolaño, who reviewed the efficiency of the tailings dam design of the polymetallic mine. Also joining the visit are observers from the academe, non-government organizations and members of the media.

“We have invited this multi-sectoral group consistent with our policy of transparency on this issue,” Reyes said.

Lafayette Philippines Inc., which owns the project, has a pending appeal with the Pollution Adjudication Board of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) chaired by Secretary Reyes, to finally lift the suspension order imposed on the company after the two tailings spill in 2005.

The DENR suspended in 2005 the commercial mining operations of Rapu-Rapu after the spills. After a few months, the PAB heeded Rapu-Rapu’s appeal to conduct a test-run on its facilities, take the necessary corrective steps to comply with a number of environmental, social, economic and technical measures.

Officials of Lafayette presented to the DENR last week the status of the mine and discussed in detail the company’s compliances with the conditions set by the PAB.

The mining firm’s executives said they have fully complied with all the 36 conditions set by the PAB, including the completion of critical environmental structures such as the tailings dam and the detoxification plant facility that now has an efficiency of 99.5% to 99.9%.

“We have already addressed the pollution issue and we now have control mechanisms in place to address any potential source of pollution,” a ranking company official said.

He added that the cyanide, pH and trace metals at the mixing zone of the lower tailings facility of the Rapu-Rapu polymetallic project are also now within DENR standards.

The company said that while the recent typhoons that hit its area have forced them to stop their mill operations, these caused no damage to their environmental structure. The company said these typhoons even proved the viability of environmental mechanisms and proved that the mine can withstand calamities.

February 2, 2007