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Doe Run Peru Hopes La Oroya Smelter Resumes Operations By July 27

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LIMA, May 25, 2010 (Dow Jones Commodities News via Comtex) -- Doe Run Peru, a unit of the U.S.-based Renco Group Inc., said Tuesday that its objective is to restart operations at its stalled polymetallic smelter by July 27.
The company said in a published statement that it &quot;firmly believes&quot; that it can restart operations at La Oroya by July 27 and that &quot;with the participation of all parties it can reach a definitive solution&quot; to outstanding problems.
Doe Run's smelter, which normally produces copper, lead and zinc, was closed following a cut-off in bank loans which prevented it from paying for metal concentrates.
Since then the government has been pressuring the company to restart operations and to finish an environmental clean up program.
In its statement, Doe Run called on the Ministry of Energy and Mines and all parties involved to work together to allow the operations to restart. It also mentioned disputes over the responsibility for environmental damage and taxes.
Deputy Energy and Mines Minister Fernando Gala was quoted as saying in the newspaper Gestion Tuesday that Doe Run Peru has to comply with the established deadline of restarting operations by July 27.
He said that if the company starts to make more demands, such as delaying paying taxes or changing environmental standards, then that will make it more difficult to restart operations by July 27.
He also said that the government won't extend the time frame for restarting operations.
The company has also been in a dispute with the government over an environmental clean up. Doe Run was given a 30-month extension to its environmental clean up deadline, from the original deadline of Oct. 31, 2009.
Doe Run Peru's metalurgical complex, north east of the capital Lima, produces copper, lead, zinc and smaller amounts of other metals. 
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