Clean up to cost K10mil

By PETER ESILA
IT may cost up to K10 million to detoxify and clean up cyanide at the abandoned Sinivit mine in East New Britain (ENB), an official says.
Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) managing director Jerry Garry said the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (Cepa) and MRA officials visited the site last year and had completed monitoring by sampling to test for elevated cyanide content in the soil and water sources.
“There are interim plans to have security guards on site,” he said.
“Cepa advised that it may cost up to K10 million for external experts to detoxicate and clean up the cyanide.”
Last week, ENB Governor Nakikus Konga told Parliament that there were 18 vets, (an outdated way of storing mine wastes at the abandoned mine), which could be disastrous for the people, especially during the flash flood the province was experiencing.
Konga’s concerns were on the effect the mine wastes would have on his 45,000 people along the Warangoi River catchment area.
He said he had been discussing with Mining Minister Johnson Tuke for the last six months regarding the mine.
“He came to my province last weekend to see for himself what is happening with the abandoned Sinivit Gold mine, it will cause a catastrophe to my province.”
Meanwhile, Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Minister Wera Mori said he would be visiting the abandoned mine to assess the wastes.
“I will basically make a visitation to that province, hopefully together with MRA,” he said.