Rapu-Rapu project withstands typhoon’s direct hit

Lafayette’s Rapu-Rapu polymetallic project in Albay withstood a direct hit by typhoon "Milenyo," only suffering damage at its non-critical areas such as the mess hall, portions of its perimeter fence, communications, and its high-voltage lines due to fallen electric posts.

"All critical areas of the project, from the dams to the processing plant, held up as per design. Even if it rained longer and harder, our dams would have had more than enough space for the water and there would have been no need to release any amount at all," said Manny Agcaoili, president of Rapu-Rapu Processing Inc., in a statement.

"We prepared and were ready for the worst. This is part of being in full compliance with DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) standards and conditions," he added.

Agcaoili said "Milenyo" was a vindication for the company that has consistently declared that it would transform itself into a benchmark of responsible mining in the country.

He said it also showed that the project’s emergency procedures are adequate and would hold up under severe situations as designed.

"Our immediate task right now is to help the communities in Albay and Sorsogon that were devastated by the typhoon. We will distribute relief goods and help rebuild these communities," he said.

Company employees have been volunteering for the task. Agcaoili said, "We are one with everybody in overcoming the terrible damage and misery caused by Milenyo."

Agcaoili said repair work on the electric lines in the project site is ongoing and operations of the processing plant are expected to resume today.

He said the Rapu-Rapu plant withstood the typhoon principally because "we followed at the very least the rules imposed on us by the DENR, all the specifications, and the design. Mining technology is such that plants and dams are designed to cope with worst-case scenarios."

Mining, according to Agcaoili, is now a much cleaner industry. "Just like our vehicles that are now cleaner than 20 years ago, so is mining. Better technology and the rules of partnership with host communities have given rise to responsible mining," he said.

"Helping the communities pick up the pieces after ‘Milenyo’ is part of this. You can be sure that we will always be there to help every way we can," he said.

Meanwhile, engineer Michael Cabalda, mining environment division chief of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, said mining facilities in regions hit by "Milenyo" were "generally fine" based on reports from the agency’s on-site teams and mining companies.

Cabalda said all mine structures in Regions 1 to 8 and in the Cordillera Administrative Region were operating well even as the typhoon battered the country’s eastern and northern regions last week. — With Katherine Adraneda