Chinese owned Mining Company in PNG faces Two Possible Lawsuits
The Chinese operated Ramu Nickel Mine in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea will be facing two possible lawsuits.
Madang Governor Peter Yama says one will be taken up by close to one thousand landowners from the impacted communities of Raicoast District - who had taken the Company to Court in 2011 over fears of pollution from the 'Deep Sea tailings Placement' (DSTP) as a result of the mine's operations.
The Court at the time had ruled in favour of the Company saying there was 'no evidence that the DSTP' would cause damage to the marine environment and so the project was given the 'green light' to commence operations.
Mr. Yama says the Company at the time was also ordered by the Court to provide quarterly reports of their operations to the Provincial Government and landowners but have failed to do so, since then - breaching Court orders.
He says with the evidence now, this case will be taken up again, adding the second case will be taken up by the Provincial Government for environmental damage.
Meantime, the absence of legislation on the usage of 'Deep sea mine tailings' (DSTP) in the country is raising serious concerns amongst affected communities.
Villagers in the communities of Raicoast district, Madang Province currently affected by the Ramu Nickel Mine's Basamuk spill say the National Government has been ignorant of this very important policy that would have stopped or mitigated the effects of the DSTP employed by the Company.
The Company which uses the DSTP to dispose of its mine wastes into the sea has reportedly been releasing 1700 litres of toxic waste into the ocean per hour, amounting to 14.2 million litres annually for fifteen years now.
A recent 200-000 litres of toxic spill from the mine is alleged to have poisoned fish, prompting a ban in the Province.
Local, Thomas Warr says, it's negligence on the Government's part, to allow the Company to operate using the DSTP for its waste disposal when there's no law to guide how they carry that out.
“If they cannot remove the DSTP –then stop the mine.
“It’s very late for the Government to come now and tell us there is no law to guide this DSTP - they must now look at coming up with a law on DSTP, Mr. Warr said.
Department of Justice and Attorney General Dr. Eric Kwa at the recently concluded 'Ocean Policy forum' says the PNG National Oceans Policy to be presented to the National Executive Council by the end of this year and expected to come into effect by 2020 will address some of this current issues including Ocean pollution among others.
NBC News / PNG Today
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Madang Governor Peter Yama says one will be taken up by close to one thousand landowners from the impacted communities of Raicoast District - who had taken the Company to Court in 2011 over fears of pollution from the 'Deep Sea tailings Placement' (DSTP) as a result of the mine's operations.The Court at the time had ruled in favour of the Company saying there was 'no evidence that the DSTP' would cause damage to the marine environment and so the project was given the 'green light' to commence operations.
Mr. Yama says the Company at the time was also ordered by the Court to provide quarterly reports of their operations to the Provincial Government and landowners but have failed to do so, since then - breaching Court orders.
He says with the evidence now, this case will be taken up again, adding the second case will be taken up by the Provincial Government for environmental damage.
Meantime, the absence of legislation on the usage of 'Deep sea mine tailings' (DSTP) in the country is raising serious concerns amongst affected communities.
Villagers in the communities of Raicoast district, Madang Province currently affected by the Ramu Nickel Mine's Basamuk spill say the National Government has been ignorant of this very important policy that would have stopped or mitigated the effects of the DSTP employed by the Company.
The Company which uses the DSTP to dispose of its mine wastes into the sea has reportedly been releasing 1700 litres of toxic waste into the ocean per hour, amounting to 14.2 million litres annually for fifteen years now.
A recent 200-000 litres of toxic spill from the mine is alleged to have poisoned fish, prompting a ban in the Province.
Local, Thomas Warr says, it's negligence on the Government's part, to allow the Company to operate using the DSTP for its waste disposal when there's no law to guide how they carry that out.
“If they cannot remove the DSTP –then stop the mine.
“It’s very late for the Government to come now and tell us there is no law to guide this DSTP - they must now look at coming up with a law on DSTP, Mr. Warr said.
Department of Justice and Attorney General Dr. Eric Kwa at the recently concluded 'Ocean Policy forum' says the PNG National Oceans Policy to be presented to the National Executive Council by the end of this year and expected to come into effect by 2020 will address some of this current issues including Ocean pollution among others.
NBC News / PNG Today
Next :
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