Cepa enforces mercury law against mining, industrial sectors

THE Conservation and Environment Promotion Authority (Cepa) has implemented a law to address the use of mercury by mining and industrial sectors after health and environment concerns were raised, an official from Cepa said.
The Minamata Convention was a globally bound agreement and so far signed by 128 countries and ratified by 12 of them.
The main agreed actions of the convention include a ban on primary mercury mining, phase-out of mercury-added products, introduction of control measures on air emissions and regulation of artisanal and small-scale gold mining.
Cepa national project coordinator of the Minamata initial assessment on mercury in PNG, Patricia Torea, presented her findings during a workshop held by Cepa last week.
She said that in terms of trade and supply, the law would not allow new primary mercury mining in the country and phase out existing primary mercury mining within 15 years of operation.
She said it would also prevent the import and use of mercury from primary mining for small-scale gold mining. “The convention will not allow the use of mercury or mercury compounds in manufacturing processes and restrict the use of mercury in the processes,” Torea said.
“It will stop new facilities from using mercury and discourage uses of mercury in industrial processes.”