NEWS RELEASE TRANSMITTED BY CCNMatthewsFOR: TVI PACIFIC INC.TSX...

NEWS RELEASE TRANSMITTED BY CCNMatthews



FOR: TVI PACIFIC INC.

TSX SYMBOL: TVI

APRIL 29, 2005 - 12:20 ET

TVI Pacific Inc.: Rapu Rapu- Commissioning Starts

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(CCNMatthews - April 29, 2005) - TVI Pacific Inc.
(TSX:TVI): The Rapu Rapu project, located in the province of Albay,
Philippines, is a polymetallic mining project which a group of companies
including Lafayette Mining Limited, a publicly traded Australian
company, is developing.

TVI retains a 2.5% net smelter return royalty (NSR) in the project.

The following is a verbatim reproduction from a Lafayette news release
issued on April 29, 2005

Commissioning starts at Rapu Rapu

The Rapu Rapu polymetallic project in the Philippines is on track for
first gold production this quarter with the commencement of process
plant commissioning this week. Andrew McIlwain, Lafayette Mining's
Managing Director, said today that commissioning of the Rapu Rapu
Project has commenced with the crusher, belts and feeders operating this
week.

"Crushing of the first ore is an important milestone for the project and
confirms we are on track for our first gold production this quarter.
This will be followed by commissioning of the base metals plant later in
the year", Mr McIlwain said.

"The team on site have done a tremendous job in delivering this outcome
despite some delays caused by adverse weather conditions late last year.
This affected shipping and construction activities".

Following the successful installation of the two mills that were
transported from the US, good progress has been made with the
installation of the power plant and other infrastructure.

Mr McIlwain said, "Leightons have made excellent progress over the past
month and this has also included the final delivery and installation of
the gold plant equipment. Our focus will now be on the commissioning of
the SAG mill and leach circuit."

Additionally, the mining team has backed up the construction work with
the open pit pre-strip work completed and ore grade material accessed.
This ore is currently being stockpiled in readiness for full plant
commissioning.

"We have reached an exciting phase in the development of the Rapu Rapu
project and the Lafayette Board are appreciative of the efforts of our
site team, Leighton Contractors (Philippines), our Philippine and Korean
partners and the project's financiers in bringing the project to this
stage", Mr McIlwain said.

About Lafayette Mining Limited (ASX: LAF)

Lafayette Mining Limited, through its subsidiary companies and
Philippine partners, hold an interest in the Rapu Rapu polymetallic
project in the Philippines. The Rapu Rapu mineral resource will support
an initial 6 year mine life producing approximately 10,000 tonnes of
copper in concentrates, 14,000 tonnes of zinc in concentrates, 50,000
ounces of gold and 600,000 ounces of silver annually.

Construction commenced in mid 2004 under a fixed price construction
contract with Leighton Contractors (Philippines) Inc. covering the
plant, wharf, and associated infrastructure. Mining works started in
early 2005 with the first production from the gold plant scheduled in
the second quarter of 2005 and base metals concentrate production to
commence three months later.

The Project is financed through a syndicate of banks comprising NM
Rothschild & Sons (Australia) Limited, ANZ Investment Bank, ABN AMRO
Bank NV (Australian Branch), Korea First Bank and Investec Bank
(Mauritius) Limited. Lafayette made its first drawdown of funds under
this facility in early September 2004.

The Project has also secured the support of LG International Corporation
and KORES, the Korean government strategic resources investment arm,
whom together, hold 26% of Lafayette's subsidiary company, Lafayette
Philippines Inc.

The recent decision by the full bench of the Supreme Court of the
Philippines in favour of the Mining Sector has reinforced recent
political statements also in favour of the industry. President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo has announced her Administration's full support of the
mining industry and this comes at a time when commodity prices permit a
more aggressive project development approach.

In a major thrust to support investment in the sector, the Philippines
government is now committed to implementing streamlined procedures for
mining applications which investors can be confident will be
administered under a clear policy directive to support resource
development in a transparent and sustainable manner.

Lafayette is fortunate that the advanced stage of development of Rapu
Rapu is timely both in the context of the current metal price
environment and the changed political landscape in the Philippines.

For further information, visit: www.lafayettemining.com

"TVI Pacific Inc. would like to congratulate the Lafayette team on
reaching the important milestone of commencement of process plant
commissioning. Lafayette's first projected gold pour this quarter means
cash flow for TVI from it's 2.5% NSR royalty in the very near term, said
Clifford M. James, TVI's President."

Ian Perry, P.Geo. of Norwest Corporation, serving as TVI's "Qualified
Person" for purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Deposits ("NI-43-101"), has reviewed this news
release.

Statements in this release that are forward-looking statements are
subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific
factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the
Corporation's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Such
information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of
the date hereof based on information currently available. The Company
does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

-30-

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
TVI Pacific Inc.
Clifford M. James
President and CEO
(403) 265-4356
(403) 264-7028 (FAX)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.tvipacific.com
The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the
information contained herein.