Tuke awaits assessments

MINING Minister Johnson Tuke, pictured, says he will make a formal statement on the Basamuk Refinery slurry spill in Madang as soon as all information and assessments were concluded.
Tuke told Parliament yesterday, in response to questions by Rai Coast MP Peter Sapia, he had visited the refinery in Rai Coast and seen the affected areas days after the spill on Aug 24 and would report to Parliament the findings.
He said under the Mining Act, he had the right to shut down the mine if there were some aspects of the mine’s operations that were a threat to the workers, communities and the environment.
Tuke said the spill had occurred after a slurry storage system had overflowed causing the contents to flow into the sea for a short period of time.
“I will make a ministerial statement on the issue but under the Mining Act the slurry has reached the sea where environment minister is responsible to make the decision.”