Pundari: Australian lab tests will confirm cause of fish deaths

 THE cause of fish deaths in Lake Kutubu, Southern Highlands, can only be revealed after laboratory tests are completed in Australia, Environment and Conservation Minister John Pundari says.

And he is appealing to communities in the Lake Kutubu area, Esso Highlands Ltd, Oil Search Ltd and other stakeholders to be patient and wait for the result from Australia.

He said Lake Kutubu communities had been claiming that the area had been contaminated by Esso Highlands Ltd, the operator of PNG LNG project, during the laying of gas pipelines and Oil Search Limited during drilling activities.

“I want to assure the communities of Lake Kutubu that the department has treated the allegations as high priority and is investigating,” he said. 

He said investigations had been carried out by experts from within the department and outside.

“So far, the department has met with EHL, OSL and local people to find out what they know about the fish deaths,” he said. 

The department deployed three experts from the University of Papua New Guinea and Inland Fisheries Agency to carry out independent investigations.