news leak reuters article MANILA, June 13 (Reuters) - The...

news leak reuters article MANILA, June 13 (Reuters) - The Philippines will allow
Australia's Lafayette Mining Ltd. to temporarily reopen
its mine in the centre of the country for a test run after two
cyanide spills in October, a government source said on Tuesday.
The source said the government will allow Lafayette 30 days
to test run its zinc and copper mine on Rapu-rapu island,
southeast of Manila.
Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes is scheduled to talk to
reporters at around 0300 GMT regarding Lafayette's mine
operations.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is pushing a revival of
mining to bring in overseas investment and reduce poverty but has
come under pressure from anti-mining C atholic bishops to ban
foreigners from 100 percent ownership of local mines.
A fact-finding commission, chaired by a bishop, into the
environmental impact of the cynanide spills called for the
permanent closure of Lafayette's operations and a moratorium on
mining on Rapu-rapu island.
((Reporting by Rosemarie Francisco,
[email protected]; Reuters Messaging:
[email protected]; +63 2 841-8937))
Keywords: MINING PHILIPPINES LAFAYETTE


Tuesday 13 June 2006 12:52:24 AEST