Papua New Guinea NGO Environmental Watch Group - N.E.W.G
Letter to Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea re Ok Tedi
P.O.Box 2750 , Boroko, Papua New Guinea
PH # (675) 323-5552 , Fax # (675) 323-0397
Sir Mekere Morauta
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
Waigani - Port Moresby
Date: 26th January 2000.
My Dear Prime Minister,
RE: OK TEDI MINING LTD, BHP, THE WORLD BANK REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF OPTIONS FOR THE OK TEDI MINE
Last week a group of people including myself visited the mine site and had a close up look at the extent of the environmental damage created by the mine waste from the air and on the ground along the Fly River bank. The die back inflicted on natural vegetation, sources of food and forest along the OKTedi and Fly river systems is extensive by any standard. While OTML s dredging efforts are well intended ; it is really a stop gap measure which will do little towards the long term rehabilitation of the ecology which is the lifeblood of the communities in the area.
Our NGO strongly supports your call to the World Bank for the need to undertake a detailed and comprehensive analysis which focuses on the broader implications of the mine . We have learnt from our international partners who monitor global mining activities including those here; that the World Banks review has a rather limited or narrow focus.
As it is necessary to look at the broad environmental and social impacts of the Ok Tedi mine; we are greatly concerned that the World Bank's limited review may result in the true problems and implications of the mine being overlooked.
We understand that the World Bank is limiting its review to the Ok Tedi Mining Risk Assessment and supporting documentation. We are of the opinion that, to properly evaluate the impact of the mine and the problems created by it, it is necessary to look at all the issues, as opposed to the narrow focus covered by the Ok Tedi Mining studies.
The need for this broader focus is in fact best stated in your request to the World Bank to examine the mine's operations, and the scientific work undertaken by 0TML, in the complete context of economic, social and environmental factors. Clearly there is a need to minimize the ongoing environmental impacts and ensure environmental and social sustainability for the long term.
From a global perspective as you know well know Sir, the Ok Tedi mine has and is creating a world scale environmental disaster. This was well documented in a CNN news telecast last weekend. The impact from the mine will continue for most of the 21st century. The mine will probably cause food scarcity and is predicted to damage fish stocks along a significant section of the Fly River. In addition , there will be widespread losses in some vegetation communities particularly forest.
The impacts include long and medium-term economic costs associated with the loss of productive use of the ecology and its resources. They also include the potential for social conflict and for Papua New Guinea's reputation and international standing which is being damaged by the Ok Tedi mine.
The Ok Tedi Mining Ltd review of options for the mine is unfortunately limited because of the fact that it is merely a risk assessment. Such an assessment can only look at the environmental and human consequences resulting from the Ok Tedi mine within limited parameters. These problems are compounded by the extensive areas of uncertainty and unknown / unquantified issues that are identified within the many reports prepared by the company.
The risk assessment will also exclude the broader economic or social problems resulting from the Ok Tedi mine. As is common with most risk assessments; it also does not look at the need to take precautionary action in order to mitigate damage from these problems or the environmental issues referred to earlier.
We therefore are of the opinion that there is a clear need for a detailed and comprehensive analysis that focuses on all of the broader implications. In particular the impacts in the following areas are critical and should be investigated:
Tailings Dam: It is our understanding that a tailings dam is both a technical and economically feasible proposition. Building the dam would help address the need to take precautionary action to prevent environmental and social problems. The assessment of the benefits of the dam should be made in the light of potential and probable problems if the dam is not built and mine waste continues to be discharged into the river.
Economic Consequences: The Ok Tedi mine has caused wide-ranging damage to a vast array of resources. The full economic consequences of the mine's operations need to be identified. These problems and liabilities arising from the operation of the mine should be known before any changes in ownership or operation {notwithstanding any need to take action to stop waste discharge into the river system) take place.
Consultation: The affected communities in the Western Province and other non-government organisations have had little opportunity to provide any input on the options for the Ok Tedi mine. Consultation has been limited and biased by the poor design of the limited consultation conducted by 0TML. A better outcome could be achieved by providing the opportunity for input from these and other wider stakeholder groups. Likewise a wider variety of options and information need to be presented to the affected communities.
The Ok Tedi mine is creating one of the southern hemisphere's single biggest environmental and social problems. We know that you appreciate the magnitude of the issues involved and we remain hopeful that you can address some of the concerns that we have raised.
We are attaching a background paper detailing some of the environmental and social issues which we have identified surrounding the mine. The paper especially focuses on the areas where the impact is unknown or uncertain and the likely and actual social impacts already experienced.
We thankyou indeed for your time Sir,
Yours Respectfully,
.
Wep Kanawi O.B.E
Convenor and Spokesperson- N.E.W.G
NEWG - PNG's environmental watch group . This is a pivotal group of social and environmental NGOs and individuals who have become extremely concerned about unabated / uncontrolled permanent ecological damage inflicted on the environment and social fabric of communities by development enclaves particularly mining. Our concern is no different to likeminded people in developed countries who demand a healthy and unpolluted environment. Unlike communities in developed countries where it would feasible for them to be more easily relocated; PNG's societies depend entirely and permanently on their local ecologies for food, water, shelter , medicine and cultural well being.
PH # (675) 323-5552 , Fax # (675) 323-0397
Sir Mekere Morauta
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
Waigani - Port Moresby
Date: 26th January 2000.
My Dear Prime Minister,
RE: OK TEDI MINING LTD, BHP, THE WORLD BANK REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF OPTIONS FOR THE OK TEDI MINE
Last week a group of people including myself visited the mine site and had a close up look at the extent of the environmental damage created by the mine waste from the air and on the ground along the Fly River bank. The die back inflicted on natural vegetation, sources of food and forest along the OKTedi and Fly river systems is extensive by any standard. While OTML s dredging efforts are well intended ; it is really a stop gap measure which will do little towards the long term rehabilitation of the ecology which is the lifeblood of the communities in the area.
Our NGO strongly supports your call to the World Bank for the need to undertake a detailed and comprehensive analysis which focuses on the broader implications of the mine . We have learnt from our international partners who monitor global mining activities including those here; that the World Banks review has a rather limited or narrow focus.
As it is necessary to look at the broad environmental and social impacts of the Ok Tedi mine; we are greatly concerned that the World Bank's limited review may result in the true problems and implications of the mine being overlooked.
We understand that the World Bank is limiting its review to the Ok Tedi Mining Risk Assessment and supporting documentation. We are of the opinion that, to properly evaluate the impact of the mine and the problems created by it, it is necessary to look at all the issues, as opposed to the narrow focus covered by the Ok Tedi Mining studies.
The need for this broader focus is in fact best stated in your request to the World Bank to examine the mine's operations, and the scientific work undertaken by 0TML, in the complete context of economic, social and environmental factors. Clearly there is a need to minimize the ongoing environmental impacts and ensure environmental and social sustainability for the long term.
From a global perspective as you know well know Sir, the Ok Tedi mine has and is creating a world scale environmental disaster. This was well documented in a CNN news telecast last weekend. The impact from the mine will continue for most of the 21st century. The mine will probably cause food scarcity and is predicted to damage fish stocks along a significant section of the Fly River. In addition , there will be widespread losses in some vegetation communities particularly forest.
The impacts include long and medium-term economic costs associated with the loss of productive use of the ecology and its resources. They also include the potential for social conflict and for Papua New Guinea's reputation and international standing which is being damaged by the Ok Tedi mine.
The Ok Tedi Mining Ltd review of options for the mine is unfortunately limited because of the fact that it is merely a risk assessment. Such an assessment can only look at the environmental and human consequences resulting from the Ok Tedi mine within limited parameters. These problems are compounded by the extensive areas of uncertainty and unknown / unquantified issues that are identified within the many reports prepared by the company.
The risk assessment will also exclude the broader economic or social problems resulting from the Ok Tedi mine. As is common with most risk assessments; it also does not look at the need to take precautionary action in order to mitigate damage from these problems or the environmental issues referred to earlier.
We therefore are of the opinion that there is a clear need for a detailed and comprehensive analysis that focuses on all of the broader implications. In particular the impacts in the following areas are critical and should be investigated:
The Ok Tedi mine is creating one of the southern hemisphere's single biggest environmental and social problems. We know that you appreciate the magnitude of the issues involved and we remain hopeful that you can address some of the concerns that we have raised.
We are attaching a background paper detailing some of the environmental and social issues which we have identified surrounding the mine. The paper especially focuses on the areas where the impact is unknown or uncertain and the likely and actual social impacts already experienced.
We thankyou indeed for your time Sir,
Yours Respectfully,
.
Wep Kanawi O.B.E
Convenor and Spokesperson- N.E.W.G
NEWG - PNG's environmental watch group . This is a pivotal group of social and environmental NGOs and individuals who have become extremely concerned about unabated / uncontrolled permanent ecological damage inflicted on the environment and social fabric of communities by development enclaves particularly mining. Our concern is no different to likeminded people in developed countries who demand a healthy and unpolluted environment. Unlike communities in developed countries where it would feasible for them to be more easily relocated; PNG's societies depend entirely and permanently on their local ecologies for food, water, shelter , medicine and cultural well being.
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