Meet looks at Wafi-Golpu deep sea tailing placement

A CONSULTATIVE meeting by Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture in Lae yesterday has given more insight into how it will manage its deep sea tailing placement (DSTP) in the Huon Gulf of Morobe.
The meeting was attended by communities from Salamaua in Huon Gulf and Labuta in Nawaeb districts.
According to the findings presented by Wafi-Golpu during the meeting, tailings that would be deposited into the sea 200m out would not pose any dangers to the marine eco system.
The report said the tailings would not contain any chemicals.
It said Wafi-Golpu could not build a tailings dam on the land because it would have severe impact once the dam was damaged.
Salamaua LLG president and Morobe fisheries and marine resources chairman, Philemon Tomala, said
since Wafi-Golpu started, the people had never had a chance for such a gathering.
“The national government should have informed us earlier on,” he said.
“We will be affected and also our fishing ground.”
Tomala said it was not only people from Salamaua and Labuta who would be affected, but also as far as Siassi islands and Morobe Patrol Post.
He, however, supported the consultation meeting, saying Wafi-Golpu had to do more of such awareness throughout coastal Morobe to cast out doubts about tailings.
Huon Gulf chief executive officer Moses Wanga said once the mining operations began, people would be affected.
“Such consultation should be given to all coastal villages, and in a language that is best understood by the people,” he said.
Wanga said once people were properly consulted with information they needed, they would be more eager to become part of the project.