Tue Jul 11, 4:47 AM ET
MANILA (AFP) - Environmental watchdog Greenpeace has criticised the Philippine government for allowing an Australian firm to resume operations on the central island of Rapu-Rapu after two 2005 spills.
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Lafayette Mining began a 30-day trial operation in Rapu-Rapu after it paid a 194,000 dollar fine and vowed to implement stricter environment safeguards.
"The countdown to another oceans disaster has begun," Greenpeace regional toxics campaigner Beau Bacongis said, warning that the test run heralded "the continuation of the destruction that the mine will wreak on the fragile marine ecosystem around the island.
"Its toxic tailings and the inevitable acid mine drainage associated with this operation will continue to pollute the seas," the campaigner said.
Bacongis also accused Manila of caving in to big business at the expense of the public and the environment "in its myopic pursuit of spurious economic gain."
Operations at Rapu-Rapu were suspended for seven months following two waster spills in October 2005 which a government probe concluded had contaminated two creeks and killed fish.
Lafayette chairman and president Carlos Dominguez welcomed the resumption of operations and stressed the company was "determined to prove it stands for responsible mining."
He also promised to fund projects in health, livelihood and environmental protection.
Leftist and environmental groups have called for the closure of the mine and a repeal of a 1995 law opening the mining industry to foreign firms.
The project is expected to produce copper, gold, silver and zinc valued at 350 million dollars over six years. It employs around 900 workers.
The company has previously said it had complied with 21 conditions imposed by the Environment and Natural Resources Department for the reopening of the mine.
