23 Aug 2013

PNG's Madang to stop tailings from Basamuk Bay

3:09 pm on 23 August 2013

The Governor of Papua New Guinea's Madang province has reportedly announced that the disposal of tailings from the Ramu Nico nickel mine into Basamuk Bay will cease.

PNG Mine Watch reports that Jim Kas made the announcement following a report from the Public Accounts Committee, which found that all laws, appointments and contracts approved by the Madang provincial government since 1994 are null and void.

The committee's inquiry uncovered irregularities and corrupt dealings by the Madang government's business arm.

It also found other serious financial discrepancies and illegal transfers, and sales of land and properties.

The inquiry found decisions made by the provincial government during the last two decades have not been properly gazetted and are therefore illegal.

This would cover approval of the Ramu mine disposal system which was the subject of a landowner challenge that the national court rejected last year.