Shortcomings of Simberi gold ‘leaked’

By LESLIE OMARO
SIMBERI Gold Mine in New Ireland province has again experienced its second uncontrolled toxic tailings discharge, prompting landowners to question its safety procedures on the island. 
Last year the mine was forced to shut down for three weeks after reports of a minor leak in its tailings mixing tank and claims of the company not honouring an agreement with landowners.
Concerned Tabar landowner Aisoli Topu said last Thursday the gold mine, owned by Allied Gold Ltd (AGL) and its subsidiary Simberi Gold Ltd (SGL), had failed to report the matter to the Department of Environment and Conservation.
 “If AGL is supposedly a company of international standing and cares about its reputation, it must come out clear to the people of Simberi and Tabar as the affected communities and the PNG government and report itself,” he said.
Topu said according to reports from the Simberi Mining Area Association (SMAA), the problem started on Jan 24, at 3pm, when the pump was down and unable to pump the toxic waste through the system and the company diverted the tailings to the nearby pond.
“The diversion of the toxic waste to the pond was a band aid solution and was illegal for the company to do it because it is not a toxic waste disposal agreement the company has with PNG government.
“Their illegal pumping of toxic waste into the nearby pond overflowed and spilled killing fish and other animals nearby.
“The company went ahead to fix the problem and failed to report the matter to the department as is required under law,” he said.
“This clearly is a second breach of the same nature as last year and non-compliance with PNG laws and they should be held accountable and prosecuted for it.
“From the overflowed toxic waste there remains a serious threat to the lives of the people and the employees.”
Topu called on the Government to understand how the Tabar people felt and take appropriate action by compelling the company to show cause.
“We demand the government to deport AGL because any monetary compensation will never replace the permanent loss of our rivers , toxic waste dumped in the sea, fish and animals being killed, skin rashes on people and interfering with the freedom of movement and freedom of expression of local people and employees,” he said.
Topu said he called SGL general manager Peter Du Plessis around lunch time last Thursday and Plessis said he denied any knowledge of the toxic discharge.
Attempts to call Plessis and get him to confirm the landowner’s reports were unsuccessful.