Lafayette ready to resume operations

Asserting that it has complied with all of the government’s 36 conditions, Australian-owned Lafayette Philippines Inc. said yesterday it is now ready to resume operations of its P1.4-billion Rapu-Rapu polymetallic project in Albay.

In a statement over the weekend, Lafayette said it has "fully complied" with all the conditions set by the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee.

"The company even went a step further in one instance and on its own is working on securing an ISO certification to make sure its systems are always in synch with existing government rules and standards, particularly as they relate to the environment," said Lafayette’s pollution control officer Carmelita Pacis.

Last Wednesday, Lafayette submitted its report to PAB following the completion of its 20-week test run.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo Reyes is scheduled to visit Lafayette’s mining facility today to personally check its compliance with the environmental conditions after its test run.

Reyes’ visit to the government’s so-called flagship mining venture is a pre-requisite for the lifting of the suspension order against Lafayette following two mine spills in October 2005.