K9mil set for mine clean-up

THE Government will spend about K9 million to clean up the toxic remains at the Sinivit mine in East New Britain left behind by developer Niugini Gold Ltd.
Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Minister Wera Mori said the company left in 2014 without formally notifying the Government.
It has claimed that the Government failed to renew its mining lease.
Mori said he would be making a submission to Cabinet for funding to carry out the clean-up.
“The mine was closed in 2014,” he said.
“They abruptly left the camp and all the infrastructure, leaching facilities, the cyanide, dynamites and explosives.
“These are very dangerous and must be disposed.
“We need to clean the place up.
“When the company left, they did not lodge a plan with the Mineral Resources Authority to put the camp under care and maintenance.
“As a result, we now have serious environmental issues.
“We need a reputable company to detoxify the cyanide, including those kept in the vat ponds and remove them.”
Mori said it would cost between K7.5 million and K9 million to undertake the exercise.
He said it should take less than three months to clean up the waste.
A population of about 50,000 people live close to the mine area.
Mori said the company commenced gold and silver production in August 2007.
They stopped production at the end of June 2012.
During its operation, the company’s revenue from gold was K77, 297,238.06, while silver was K352, 833.49.