Panguna mine chemicals affecting locals
by ramunickel
Romulus Masiu | Post Courier
CHEMICALS at the now defunct Panguna copper mine in Bougainville operated by Rio Tinto’s Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) are taking their toll on Bougainvilleans engaged in alluvial mining operations within the mine lease areas.
As Bougainville approaches its referendum and there is talk of reopening the mine, Bougainvilleans are now calling on relevant authorities, especially the Bougainville Copper Foundation (BCF), to conduct awareness on the dangers of the disposed chemicals.
According to the people, the residue of mine chemicals could be responsible for babies born with deformities, with their parents who are alluvial miners who pan for gold in the affected Kavarong and Jaba Rivers of Panguna every day.
However, these reports could not be independently verified by any authorised experts. Other complaints include stomach cancer, ulcers and tumors.
Dickson Siparu, a former Panguna mine employee told Post-Courier that during the mining operations the chemicals nitrate and cyanide were excessively used in the operations.
Presently children and adults who frequent the affected Kavarong and Jaba Rivers have ulcers (sores) on their legs and bodies, he said.
Women are brought to the Arawa and Buka general hospital with stomach complaints, which the people believe could be the result of these chemicals.
Mr Siparu now wants BCF to help the people affected by BCL’s doings.
“There is clear evidence of nitrate and cyanide at the Jaba River pump station area. Rio Tinto through BCL must be held responsible for their actions,” he said.
When contacted by the Post-Courier, BCL said it “believes that it is most unlikely that any residues from mining operations at Panguna could be associated with reported cases of ill-health among alluvial miners panning for gold in Central Bougainville”.
A BCL spokesman said cyanide was never used at Panguna.
“For almost 20 years, the Panguna mine produced concentrate containing both copper and gold, which was exported in bulk for further refining,” he told the Post-Courier.
“There was no gold extraction process that required agents like cyanide and there is no record of any cyanide ever being imported or used anywhere on the island by Bougainville Copper.”
The BCL spokesman said “nitrate” could refer to ammonium nitrate, a common substance widely used as fertiliser throughout the world.
“Ammonium nitrate is by itself non-toxic and water soluble, considered safe for humans and plants in agricultural applications around the world.”
The BCL spokesman said the company viewed with sympathy and concern any instance of alluvial miners or their families developing skin problems or other ailments caused by long periods of time spent working in muddy water, or in unsafe small-scale mining.
They have been asked to take extra precautions when in the vicinity of reported cases of poisoning.
ramunickel | May 13, 2013 at 1:30 pm