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It’s about time PNG build its own
smelter
I AM following closely with
interest all the latest developments of explorations, mines
development and mine sustainability for Papua New Guinea.
I would like to raise a practical educational hypothesis for the
Government with the latest comments on mining developments by
the managing director of Marengo Mining Les Emery and Sam Akotai
on the new copper/molybdenum mine in Morobe.
They and others are to be credited for their efforts but more so
to take a step further and consider the possibility of a smelter
for PNG.
PNG has for the last 30 years exported its copper concentrates
to smelters in Japan and South Korea from its copper mines in
Bougainville and Ok Tedi, whilst the new mines in Freida and
Marengo and others would add on the concentrates for these
smelters.
Our own mineral technologists and engineers could provide the
base line studies for PNG’s smelter and I propose that the Ok
Tedi mine infrastructure be used for PNG’s first smelter
considering its availability of the energy source required for
smelters and hence save on further carbon dioxide emissions
among other feasible options for a copper smelter.
I welcome any criticisms on this issue and perhaps the
authorities in Mining and Trade can pursue this worthy cause as
I fear for the generations to come would know and question why
PNG has produced copper concentrates for over 30years and lost
on added benefits.
John R Marcus
Akita University, Japan
 
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