Communist rebels attack Xstrata mine in Philippines21:46,...

Communist rebels attack Xstrata mine in Philippines
21:46, Tuesday, 1 January 2008

MANILA, Jan 1 (Reuters) - Communist rebels in the southern
Philippines attacked a mine majority owned by London-listed
Xstrata Plc on Tuesday and set two buildings on fire
before retreating, police said.

Robert Kiunisala, a senior superintendent of police in South
Cotabato province where the Tampakan mine is located, said the
rebels may have attacked the facility for the non-payment of a
"revolutionary tax".

He said New People's Army rebels raided the mine early on New
Year's morning, firing with grenade launchers and automatic
weapons. Before retreating, they set two buildings on fire and
strafed a nearby army detachment.

There were no casualties, police said.

Tampakan is one of the biggest undeveloped copper resources
in Southeast Asia.

Its total resources are estimated at 12.8 million tonnes of
contained copper and 15.2 million ounces of contained gold. The
mine is due to launch production in 2013, with annual output of
200,000 tonnes of copper and 200,000 ounces of gold.

The mine is 62.5 percent owned by Xstrata and 34 percent by
Australia's Indophil Resources N.L. .
(Reporting by Raju Gopalakrishnan; Editing by Jerry Norton)
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