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Article

13 Nov 2019

Author:
Papua New Guinea Today

Ramu Nickel to face two possible lawsuits

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"Chinese owned Mining Company in PNG faces Two Possible Lawsuits", 5 November 2019

[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…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)'…The Court at the time ruled in favour of [Ramu]…,saying there was “no evidence” and so the project was given the 'green light’…[Ramu] 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…

[W]ith 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. [T]he absence of legislation on the usage of 'Deep sea mine tailings (DSTP)' in [PNG] is raising serious concerns…Villagers in the…Raicoast district…say the National Government has been ignorant…of the effects of the DSTP…

[Ramu] 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. [A] recent…toxic spill from the mine is alleged to have poisoned fish, prompting a ban in the Province. Department of Justice and Attorney General Dr. Eric Kwa…says the PNG National Oceans Policy [is] to be presented to the National Executive Council by the end of this year and [is] expected to come into effect by 2020…, [addressing] some…current issues including Ocean pollution…

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