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River contamination confirmed
By HARLYNE JOKU
A FORMER acting environment supervisor of Tolukuma gold mine and marine
biologist Alois Wafi has come out publicly confirming that toxic heavy
metals exist in the marine life and food chain of the Auga and Angabanga
areas in the Central province.
The contamination report is backed by studies he conducted in 2003.
Mr Wafi said the report was commissioned by the then Tolukuma gold mine
operator Durban Rooderpoorte Deepe (DRD) who presented the report to the
Department of Environment and Conservation titled Tolukuma Gold Mine’s
2004 Annual Environment Report.
He said the Department of Environment and Conservation was aware of the
report.
DY environmental consultants conducted geo-chemical studies while
Hydrobiology Pty Ltd Australia conducted aquatic biological surveys in
2005.
Mr Wafi showed a copy of the report to The National this week. According
to the report, research and sampling was conducted in the Auga and
Angabanga Rivers and along the coast of Abia-Oreke.
The report reveals that the food chain in the river system is
contaminated by heavy metals from the slurry tailings and mine waste
dumped by the multi-billion kina Tolukuma gold mine.
The report stated that according to international food standards of
Australia and New Zealand (ANZFA) the metal concentrations found
in the marine foods in Angabanga was questionable.
Mr Wafi himself was involved in water sampling of Tolukuma gold mine
past the compliance point 7km downstream.
Mr Wafi confirmed the metals were ‘signature metals’ of Tolukuma gold
mine.
Mr Wafi said the impact would be experienced further along the coastal
areas of Central and Gulf provinces.
This was because Tolukuma gold mine was a mere 90km from the coast,
which made coastal environment exposed to heavy metal pollution, Mr Wafi
said.
Mr Wafi supported Dr Sylvester Kotapu’s study which revealed high levels
of toxic heavy metals in blood samples of sick and deformed people
living along the Auga and Angabanga Rivers.
 
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