DEC approves three major national projects

 THE Minister for Environment and Conservation Benny Allan issued the approval-in-principle (AIP) for three projects of importance in a signing ceremony at Port Moresby’s Gateway Hotel last Friday.

The projects were the Million Ounce Plant Upgrade project by Lihir Gold Ltd, Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) project by Department of Commerce and Industry and Nungwaia-Bongos integrated large-scale agricultural project by SPZ Enterprise (PNG) Ltd.

“These three projects have met all the legislative requirements under the environment Act 2000,” Allan said.

He said the environment impact statements for the three projects were submitted to the department in late 2009 and early last year. 

“Due to the technical assessment processes that the department administers, it has taken a while for the approval in principle to be granted,” Allan said.  

“This environment approval for the million ounce plant upgrade will involve building an additional power and water supply. 

“The upgrade will increase annual gold production by an extra million ounces of gold, reduce unit costs, and increase the treatment rate of low grade ores being stockpiled,” Allan said.

“ The PMIZ project in Madang aims to increase export revenue from fisheries products. 

“The project, when operational, will increase the country’s capacity to process local and imported fisheries products,” he said.

Allan said the Nungwaia-Bongos integrated agriculture project located in Maprik district, East Sepik, was developed by SPZ Enterprise Ltd in partnership with the government.

“The project when developed, after logging, will convert 5,000ha of land into an integrated agriculture area over a period of five years. 

“From a net forest productive area of some 29,700ha, 5,000ha would be converted to agriculture,”  Allan said.