Wafi-Golpu to present findings

MINING projects bring both negative and positive benefits to the people and the environment and Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture is mindful of such impacts,” says an official.
Wafi-Golpu JV (WGJV) project services country manager David Masani said the company would conduct various stakeholder meetings to clarify their findings into the proposed mine waste disposal into Huon Gulf waters.
“We’ve conducted several meetings already and we’ll continue to do so with Huon Gulf development authority including various impacted districts and concerned stakeholders,” he said.
Masani led the WGJV team to Saya, Lababia in Salamaua to conduct awareness about the proposed mine tailings into Huon Gulf sea via Wagang village.
Mine waste disposal into the sea was a hot topic at the 19th Lutheran National Youth Conference involving 5,000 youths from the church’s 17 national districts.
“Gold and copper are a blessing for us to exploit, utilise and sustain human livelihoods but as humans, we have the responsibility to create proper waste management plans to avoid negative impacts,” Masani said.
“We’ve documented reports of the findings displayed at the conference stall and will be made available in various government and church offices for the public to have a better undertstanding.”
He said though there was no mining activity at Wafi, WGJV’s community affairs unit had conducted sustainable agricultural activities over the years.
“WGJV’s commitment in cocoa and coffee production resulted in production of ‘Kumul blo Morobe’ chocolate and roasted coffee packed and sold locally creating income for villagers,” he said.
Salamaua president Mathias Koro said waste management was an issue.
Koro, who has worked at mine and project sites around the country like Ok Tedi, Simberi and Lihir, in waste management systems, said unless WGJV convinced the people that its waste disposal standards were high they would be against dumping waste in the Huon Gulf sea.