........in Bougainville
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2010/s2926799.htmLateline, ABC TV - 14 June 2010
Abandoned mine threatens environmental disaster
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Broadcast: 14/06/2010
Reporter: Liam Fox
The Australian owners of an abandoned mine in Bougainville say it is too dangerous to return to repair leaking fuel tanks.
Transcript
LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: It's been 20 years since a bloody civil war forced the closure of the Panguna copper mine on the island of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea.
The mine's infrastructure has been slowly decaying ever since.
The fuel tanks that fed Panguna's power station are now leaking oil not far from the sea.
Some are warning of an impending environmental disaster but the mine's Australian owner says it's only a minor spill.
It wants to return to Bougainville to clean up but says it can't because the island is still too dangerous for its workers.
PNG correspondent Liam Fox reports.
LIAM FOX, PNG CORRESPONDENT: Deep in the Bougainville jungle are the remains of what was one of the world's biggest copper mines. Panguana is now a wasteland of rusting equipment and dilapidated buildings. Operations ground to a halt 20 years ago when the resentment felt by local landowners towards the mine sparked a decade-long civil war. Thousands died during the crisis and the mine has been slowly decaying ever since.
It's a similar story on the coast at Panguna's old power station. These fuel tanks haven't been maintained for two decades. Now they're leaking oil, lots of it and it could get worse.
RON BLENKIRON, SOUTH PACIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL: There's a crack down through there. This is about a 20 mill thick at the bottom, but these cracks will still open up in an earthquake.
LIAM FOX: Thick, heavy fuel oil coats the ground. A black lake lies next to the tanks. From here, it's only a stone's throw to the ocean. This pit only metres from the water is the last barrier preventing oil from leaking into the sea.
RON BLENKIRON: During the wet season when we first came here, this pit was basically full of water and the oil was about 50 mill from running into the sea, so it was pretty close. You're living on the edge of a catastrophe here the whole time. It's pretty nasty stuff.
LIAM FOX: Ron Blenkiron from South Pacific Environmental says the leaking oil isn't the only potential hazard here, up the road are the remains of a storage area for chemicals used in the mining process.
RON BLENKIRON: We won't take you any further into there, but these are really nasty stuff. You can't go in there without full breathing apparatus and chem suits. This is really nasty.
LIAM FOX: Mr Blenkiron has written to the mines, Australian owner Bougainville Copper Limited or BCL, and offered to clean it up. For a price of course, but BCL has declined.
RON BLENKIRON: I believe that BCL is morally responsible to clean up.
LIAM FOX: Steven Tibo is working for South Pacific Environmental and the company it's formed with some local landowners.
STEVEN TIBO, SOUTH PACIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL: My people we live on the coast, marine life, so this oil is a concern.
LIAM FOX: But back in Port Moresby, BCL isn't so worried.
PETER TAYLOR, BOUGAINVILLE COPPER LTD CHAIRMAN: There is what I call a relatively minor oil spill that's been contained by the safety systems that were put in place, the bund. And really it seems to me it's just a case of going and cleaning that up.
LIAM FOX: Bougainville Copper says vandals caused the spill and much of the oil has already been stolen. It says New Zealand peacekeepers removed any toxic chemicals from the area in 1997. The company says it wants to clean up the spill, but more than a decade after the war ended, it still believes Bougainville is not safe for its employees.
PETER TAYLOR: Unfortunately, there are few people, and I think they're now well and truly in the minority, who refuse to allow us access and some of these people unfortunately have got guns.
LIAM FOX: So why not use South Pacific Environmental, who are already on the ground?
PETER TAYLOR: We have done some research to try and find out what their credentials are and as far as I can see, they have no experience in actually doing any sort of environmental remediation work.
LIAM FOX: Bougainville Copper is hoping to return soon and clean up the mess itself. The historic hatred local villagers felt towards Panguana is dissipating. Many now want the mine reopened to fund their long-held desire for independence from PNG.
CHRIS DAMANA, PANGUNA LAND OWNERS ASSOCIATION: We want Bougainville to get its own money, find its own funds and to run its own affairs.
PETER TAYLOR: The landowners are now approaching the company saying, 'We'd like you to come back.'
LIAM FOX: It might not be too long before BCL is back in Bougainville.
Liam Fox Lateline.