RAPU-RAPU, Albay - Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo Reyes said here he would decide on Thursday, Feb. 8, on whether or not to allow Lafayette Philipines, Inc. (LPI) which operates the Rapu-Rapu Processing Plant to permanently resume its mining operation after completing its four-month test run in this island town.

        “Final decision will be made on Thursday after the Pollution Adjudication Board decides on the lifting of the ban order,” Reyes told reporters via speaker phone after bad weather hampered the helicopter pilot to land on this island.

        Reyes said that the LPI has a pending appeal before the Pollution Adjudication Board of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on the ban order following reports over four months ago of mine tailings and fishkill in Albay waters and Sorsogon Bay.

        Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez, LPI President and CEO, said the plant is ready to operate on full scale after remedial measures had been implemented.

        “We’re confident that the DENR Secretary will allow us to operate on full scale commercial operation because we’ve proven that we were able to withstand three typhoons without any single damage on ponds, nor report about mine tailing and spillage,” Dominguez said even as he stressed that no damage at all is best evidence of the safety of the plant.

        Manuel Agcaoli, Rapu-Rapu Processing, Inc. president disclosed that during the 4-month test run, the mining firm was able to ship 1,510 metric tons of copper concentrate to China.

        “The first shipment was 805 tons with market value of $1.8 milion and the second shipment was 705 metric tons with market value of $1.1 million,” he said. He added that a third shipment of zinc at approximately 1,600 metric tons are bound for Korea within this month.

        Gov. Raul Lee of Sorsogon endorsed the resumption of the mining plant’s full scale operation saying that it would significantly contribute to the economic welfare of the Bicolanos.