Central province Governor Alphonse Moroi is adamant that Tolukuma Gold Mine (TGM) agrees to construct a tailings dam in the memorandum of agreement (MoA) before the Central provincial government can sign.
The signing of the MoA, according to mining officer John Sambiok, is due in two weeks.
A meeting was held at Parliament yesterday for the Tolukuma Gold Mine and Central provincial government to make compromises on the input of MoA.
TGM chief executive Brad Sampson said the construction of a tailings dam would be risky considering the unstable seismic activities.
Mr Sampson said it would not be environmentally sound for a tailings dam to be built in case of a dam burst due to seismic activity, which would be disastrous.
“We are exploring alternatives including a filtration process,” he said.
But Mr Moroi stressed that no MoA would be signed unless a tailings dam and other issues included on the review are agreed upon, which included the construction of a permanent reticulated water supply to the Auga-Angabanga riverine communities.
Mr Moroi said TGM must comply to meet expenses of any relocation exercise resulting of the mine-associated pollution; medical costs arising from the mine associated illnesses and compensation for the people for any damages or losses associated from carelessness and negligence on the part of the mining company.
Mr Sampson, however, refused to accept that the mine was responsible for the illnesses and deaths of the river communities.
He pleaded with the governor to furnish TGM with a copy of the report of a study commissioned by the provincial government and undertaken by Dr Sylvestor Kotapu, which revealed traces of toxic metals found in the blood samples of people living downstream of the mine.

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