Team conducting mine awareness

Business

A STATE team led by the Conservation Environment Protection Authority (Cepa) is in Morobe to conduct awareness and get stakeholders’ views on the proposed Wafi-Golpu mine deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) system.
Cepa, with the support of Mineral Resources Authority (MRA), started its awareness and consultations yesterday with the Morobe government executive council. “The awareness on DSTP is aimed at educating landowners and impacted communities along the route of the pipeline, on what the DSTP system is, how it works and how the Cepa will monitor the operation of the system if installed,” MRA said in a statement.
“The views of stakeholders, including landowners, impacted communities and the provincial government, will be recorded and will form part of the basis for assessment of the developer’s application for an environmental permit.”
Council members who attended the consultation included Governor Ginson Saonu, Ahi local level government president Malcolm Kalo, Wampar LLG president Boaras Giuka and Sialum LLG president Bobby Robby.
The Government team was led by Minister for Environment Wera Mori, Cepa managing director Gunther Joku.
Saonu said while his government and people wanted the mine to operate, Cepa and the Government must continue to explore and source more expertise from around the world to give assurance to his people.
The team is expected to visit villages along the
proposed pipeline route including Wagang, Salamaua, Labu and Labuta.
The awareness is a prerequisite (under the Environment Act). Following the awareness and consultation, the environment council will consider the environment impact statement, independent expert peer reviews and other submissions from stakeholders, and recommend to the minister for environment, to issue an approval-in-principle.

3 comments

  • The impact of the tailings dumped into the sea will destroy marine life including the livelihood of the people. Regardless of whatever reason the company and the Govt gives it will not guarantee the permanent damage that’s about to happen. People must not approve this theu must see what happen to OKTEDI Misima Panguna and Ramu Nico…

  • New Crest have been making a number of presentations in PNG & at the Mining Confrence & other professional confrenceses. They have put to us that they have a perfect record worlwide on their DSTP installations.
    Inspite of the perfect record, PNG may be the first failure. However, they have shown in their presentation that they have very strict and modernised mitigation processes in place for the tailing transportation & disposal.
    The big question is: On the one hand , we want development & the benefits whilst on the other hand we are saying – no tailling dam – no mine. Studies have shown that with the type of underground mining the Newcrest will do at Wafi, the possibilities of major tectonic instability is very high thus the construction of a tailing dam near the site is not the best option. You cannot have the best of both worlds.
    We have to make a small scarifice to gain a small reward. Lets allow the mine to operate & review the aggreement in the next 10 – 15 years & if there is noteable damge to the environment. then we rewrite the agreement.
    Thanks. P.Isan.

  • DSTP is not allowed in many many countries where Newcrest and other large mining companies operate.
    Large corporations take advantage of our lack or poor governing systems, policies to for DSTP in their advantages of making huge profits. This is what Newcrest has done to Lihir.
    The see floor will become like a desert in the long term.

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