Pressespiegel – Press review: Mining in the South Pacific Vol. 3, No. 1, January – February 2011, 92 pages Redaktion/compilation: Dr. Roland Seib, Hobrechtstr. 28, 64285 Darmstadt, Germany http://www.roland-seib.de/mining.html Copyright: The material is copyrighted by the media and authors quoted. Abbreviations in common use: BCL: Bougainville Copper Limited LNG: Liquid Natural Gas PIR: Pacific Islands Report PNG: Papua New Guinea Websites: Pacific Islands Report: http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/graphics.shtml PNG Post-Courier: http://www.postcourier.com.pg PNG The National. http://www.thenational.com.pg ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ News Release Fiji Ministry of Information Suva, Fiji, Feb 28, 2011 FIJI LEASES LAND FOR CHINA BAUXITE MINING OPERATION The Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources continued issuing land lease documents yesterday as government progresses plans for bauxite mining in Bua. At Lovonidalo settlement in the district of Navakasiga, minister Netani Sukanaivalu presented another set of lease documents to Aurum Exploration (Fiji) Limited which will allow for the construction of a wharf. The 60 acres of land which belongs to the Mataqali Nalutu will be used to construct a 800 meter wharf where bauxite ores will be shipped directly to melting plants in China for processing. Mr Sukanaivalu issued both a surface and foreshore lease to company official Basilio Vanuaca in the presence of the mataqali Nalutu. Also present at the handing over ceremony this morning were ministry officials, acting permanent secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimone Kau and Commissioner Northern Lieutenant- Colonel Inia Seruiratu. Lieutenant- Colonel Seruiratu also handed over a cheque of $101,930 as premium and lease payment to the mataqali Nalutu. 2 Another cheque of $275,000 was presented to the vanua Navakasiga and vanua Lekutu as compen- sation for the loss of fishing rights at Galoa Bay, the proposed construction site for the new wharf. Under the Land Use decree and Land Use Regulations, government as administrators of these lands will now set up three separate trust accounts for the vanua Navakasiga , vanua Lekutu and the mataqali Nalutu. The composition of these trust accounts will be finalised by the Prime Minister after receiving nominations from villagers. The Commissioner Northern will be one of the trustees who will play an advisory role for the landowners under the arrangement. Apart from the income earned from lease and premium payments, other direct benefits include improved infrastructure and better access to health services and education for this rural community. Bauxite mining works is expected to start in April with the issue of a mining lease to the company. SOLOMONS GOLD MINE RELOCATES VILLAGERS IN AREA Australia’s Allied Gold builds houses for the displaced By Denver Newter HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, Feb 28, 2011) - Land owners in the Gold Ridge area North Central Guadalcanal have started moving in to their new permanent homes under the relocation package carried out by Allied Gold Mining. Some of the families have moved in December last year while others moved in last month with more families to move in once their homes are completed according to the site supervisor Kenneth Pata. Construction of the new homes started last year after Allied Gold took over from Australia Solomons Gold (ASG) and pumped in millions of dollar for the relocation exercise. Reports said the landowners have been excited to move into their newly built homes allowing them to enjoy new facilities provided by the company. Allied Gold built the new homes under the relocation agreement before it commences full scale mining operations. Mr. Pata said most of the landowners have commended the company for providing the new housing facilities. "Two relocation sites have now been completed and landowners started move in to the houses," he said. The two completed sites are Bubulaki and Ravua. Construction have now moved to a new site. Most of the homes have between two to three bedrooms including kitchen, showers, and laundry. Pata said given such a good homes he encouraged the landowners to take pride of them, take greater care and used them wisely. The cost of constructing the new homes have cost Allied Gold so much because of the cost of sourcing the materials from overseas and the transportation. Pata also commended the landowners for their support during the construction stages. "I liked to thank the people in the Gold Ridge area for allowing us to work on the project to assist them in the welfare," Pata said. Construction is currently underway with more homes and other facilities to be constructed and completed. The relocation exercise is expected to be completed this year. Most of the landowners have to be relocated to allow the full mining work to operate without much disruption. Allied Gold is expected to see the first flow of gold bar in March. Solomon Star: http://www.solomonstarnews.com/ Ramu: DSTP case judge to visit site The National, February 28, 2011 By JAYNE SAFIHAO THE three-week trial of the Ramu NiCo Management deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) system ended last Thursday. Trial judge David Cannings will visit the Ramu NiCo refinery at Basamuk Bay, the site of the DSTP system, and allow for submissions by the developer and those opposed to 3 it in three weeks time. The substantive argument of whether the law allowed for nuisance to be caused to the marine environment and the science involved in the sum baseline studies, which in- cluded the study of ocean currents, marine species and corals, segmentation and upwelling, turbidity and toxic level of the tailings, were two of the main concerns raised. Principal plaintiff Louis Medaing, representing the Tong and Ongeg clan, landowners of portion 109 and 110 and Basamuk, had been questioned over his heritage after the four initial plaintiffs withdrew their case against Ramu NiCo last year. However, another 1,081 people from as far as Bogia and Karkar Island have registered as plaintiff with Tiffany Nonggorr of Nonggorr Willam Lawyers as their counsel. State counsel Steven Davis, a private lawyer, and Ramu NiCo’s Charles Scherri QC, Ian Malloy and Goiye Mileng of Kua Asi and Possman Lawyers, questioned the validity of the plaintiffs’authority signatures, claiming they were forgeries. During the trial, marine scientist and various fields of study took the stand basing their arguments on several reports concerning consequences of the DSTP, recommendations based on the findings, the likely possibility of nuisance as a result of the tailing disposal and the options of an alternate disposal system. Scientist who took the stand were Dr Tracy Schimmeld, an oceanographer and the lead scientist in the Scottish Association of Marine Scientist (SAMS) report and currently retained on contract by the PNG government to conduct further studies on upwelling for the next 12 months; Dr John Luick an oceanographer; Dr Phil Shearman an ecologist responsible for the Lutheran church report; Gavin Mudd, a mine waste specialist, who argued that land-based tailings disposals were best for monitor- ing purposes; Philip Tower, a marine chemist; Stuard Johns, a specialist in environment and social impact studies; and Ian Hargraves, a marine scientist and oceanographer. Environment and Conser- vation secretary Dr Wari Iamo was summoned to give evidence while pipeline engineer Dr George Shou, of US-based Brass Engineering, argued that the 135km slurry pipeline from Kurumbukari mine to the Basamuk refinery and into the sea was made from the best quality and technology available. Both parties return to court on March 16 to make oral presentations. Moran landowners want K200m Post-Courier 28.2.2011 Moran landowners in Southern Highlands are calling on the Government to pay up close to K200 million in Memorandum of Agreements and other funds committed under the LNG project. In a pe- tition delivered to Deputy Prime Minister Sam Abal on Friday, the landowners want the govern- ment to settle the payments to allow for work on the Central Moran and West Moran petroleum pro- ject to go ahead. “Moran is producing 80 per cent of the country’s oil and the government has ig- nored this very fact. The government should know that MoA funds are for the existing projects and such funds should be released as soon as possible to the respective project area landowners,” the 30 clans in the Moran area said in their petition. “It has come to our understanding that the Government has been making empty promises and could not honour their commitments. Moran Oil has been and even now producing and contributing to the country’s revenue and the Government has done nothing for the very impact project area landown- ers,” they said. In their petition, a copy obtained by the Post-Courier, the landowners said they want immediate release of K100 million in outstanding MoA funds, the immediate release of K35 million under the Umbrella Based Sharing Agreement, and K50 million under the Licensed Based Sharing Agreement. They also want all ministerial commitments to be paid, a review of the central moran petroleum development agreement and K5 million in reimbursement for the development levy for north west Moran. They have given the State seven days to pay the money. 4 Simberi: Group halts ops on mines in NIP Post-Courier 28.2.2011 By JORGE RUMAROPEN The Simberi Mine Area Association (SMAA) has put a stop to the operations of two open pit mines after the group claimed the developer had failed to comply with roles and responsibilities as stipu- lated in the signed 1996 MOA. The association planted two plants (gorgor) in the pigiput and so- lowar pits bringing the operations to a stop since last Monday. The gorgor is a traditional sign of “no go” used by the people.