Leaks at Sinivit pose risk

THE vats system at the Sinivit mine, in East New Britain, is reportedly leaking, posing a health risk for communities along the river systems.
Police were on site on Monday to confirm the leak and plans are in place for provincial environmental and health inspectors to visit the site and make assessments of the system.
Police believe the leakage started prior to the temporary closure of the mine.
During a meeting last week with landowners, developers New Guinea Gold Ltd, provincial government, police and Mineral Resources Authority, mine manager Eric Namaliu said one of the company’s immediate intentions was to recall mine processing officers back on site to manage the vat system to avoid overflow of tailings into the rivers.
The oxide ore from the current operations is processed via vat and heap leaching.
According to company figures in June, there were 17 vats holding hundreds of thousands of tonnes of crushed ore and cyanide on site.
Deputy Governor Boniface Setavo said it was important that mine workers were let in basically to manage the likely overflow of the vats.
“The vats should be managed well to avoid any catastrophe for the people up and down the rivers and the oceans.”
He said the mine had many huge vats on the highest mountain peaks of the New Britain island, that makes one of the subject of discussions, because a number of vats were outside the mining lease area and were “dangerously located”.
He said since police were called into the mine, they had little or no confrontation with the landowners.
Setavo acknowledged provincial police commander, Sylvester Kalaut for his leadership and maintaining a command that was people-friendly, responsive and effective during the festive period.