Expert technical advisory panel to review the Watut River System

Following representations to the Hidden Valley Joint Venture by the Member of Parliament for Bulolo Mr Sam Basil who raised landowner community concerns, an expert technical advisory panel will review sediment and pollution issues affecting the Watut River.

The panel will complement the existing regulatory processes and scrutiny of mining operations conducted by the PNG Government.

It will likely include international specialists with best practice experience relevant to the PNG natural environment

In recent discussions with Mr Basil it was agreed that terms of reference and membership of the expert technical advisory panel would be determined with a view to finalising details at a meeting in January.

Regulators will be key participants in this meeting and in ongoing discussions.

It is envisaged the expert technical advisory panel will be briefed on both historic and current studies and will visit the mine site.

The Joint Venture has provided Mr Basil with a briefing on the environmental management and monitoring of sediment run-off from the mine along with background information and a number of studies.

The Joint Venturers said that the expert technical advisory panel would be a vehicle for the constructive resolution of sediment related issues in a transparent and cooperative forum.

The meeting also discussed the establishment of multi stakeholder panels to consider the broader future development of Morobe Province.

 

Background

The Hidden Valley Mine is operated by the Hidden Valley Mine Joint Venture (HVJV) a 50:50 Joint venture between Harmony Gold of South Africa and Newcrest Mining of Australia.

The Hidden Valley Mine is located near Wau and Bulolo in Morobe Province.

 It was officially opened in September 2010.

The Hidden Valley Mine has a workforce of more than 2,000 people: 95 per cent are PNG nationals and 50 per cent come from the local communities.

It is important to note that the Hidden Valley Mine has an engineered tailings storage facility and no mine processing residue, or tailings, is discharged into the river.

The mine related sediment in the river that has caused community concern was run-off from mine overburden and construction activities.

 The mine transitioned from construction to operation in October this year.

Mine sediment run-off is now significantly lower due to mitigation measures.

These measures included ceasing of side casting of waste rock and overburden in September 2009, ongoing revegetation of exposed slopes and erosion control, and the storage of waste rock in engineered waste rock facilities.

Hidden Valley Mine has a demonstrated record of working with local communities.

The Hidden Valley Joint Venture has been making voluntary compensation payments to communities along the Watut River for flood damage to crops and gardens, regardless of whether this was due to additional sediment run-off from the mine construction activity or by natural events such as landslips and heavy rain.

A sustainable development program is bringing education support, agricultural skills, health programmes and community facilities such as sanitation and water supplies, school classrooms, community halls and aid posts.

These programs were developed in partnership with the local and provincial government and are aligned with their development programmes.

 

Media inquiries contact:

Hidden Valley Joint Venture

David Wissink

Ph: (675) 472 1703 ext 243

Mobile: (675) 7100 2406

Fax: (675) 472 1705

Email: david.wissink@morobejv.com

 

Hon. Sam Basil, MP

Member of Parliament for Bulolo

Email: vipersco@yahoo.com.au

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=698071613

 

The importance of research, science and technology

By SENIORL ANZU of NARI

The roles of research, science and technology are important for overall prosperity of any developing economy.

In agriculture, it is accepted that research, science and technology make positive inputs to agricultural development and eventually contribute to overall economic growth.

This happens when improved agricultural technologies and new innovations and knowledge generated through scientific research and innovative development are used in innovative ways by the farming and rural communities.

Papua New Guinea’s economic growth and social advancement remains in natural resource (renewable) sectors, including agriculture.

This sector is the mainstay of PNG where the majority of the population (85%) sustains their livelihoods.

Agriculture is the sector that must be targeted, irrespective of very exciting developments in other sectors at this present time.

The core contributions of agriculture are in the areas of food security, cash income generation, increasing gainful employment, reducing poverty and rural development - which would help realise broadbased economic growth.

That is where the government’s medium to long-term focus is for the future.

PNG agriculture also has potential for long term prosperity.

 This is through people empowerment and wealth creation, as singled out in the PNG Vision 2050.

Agricultural research and improved technologies are seen to be the most-critical catalytic agents in promoting the agriculture sector, economic growth and sustainable rural development.

PNG has distinct comparative and competitive advantage in developing its agriculture sector given the ample natural resources.

Basic opportunities in the agriculture sector lie in PNG’s rich resources and the potential to achieve substantial productivity gains through science-based agricultural technology and transfer of knowledge to communities.

Many of the potentials can be realised through increased productivity and diversified and expanded production.

They can be achieved through improved agricultural technologies and new knowledge created from science-based research which must be used by the farming and rural communities.

Technologies cannot be limited to one condition.

They can be borrowed from other countries.

Actors in the sector make assessments and adapt them to local conditions and circumstances.

Technologies can also be developed through innovations.

This is done through applied research, which requires scientific and systematic methods and processes.

Scientific research explores for truth and emphasises clarity of thinking using systematic processes.

Technology development translates research outputs into practical application for farmers and rural communities to use.

This is where institutions of research and technology development, higher education and training, and quality assurance come in.

They play a vital role in such an innovation system.

A number of institutions, universities and the private sector are incorporating science and technology in their research and development efforts.

 These are in the areas of crop improvement such as breeding, and biotechnology, crop diversification, pest and disease control such as management of the potato late blight infestation, and value addition.

 Over the years, the use of science and technology has helped developed various technologies that are appropriate for local conditions.

Examples of technological innovations involving National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) include the development of plant-derived pesticides using locally-available resources, chemical control for taro beetle, hybrid taro varieties, crop propagation technique of marcotting, and the development of low-cost livestock feed using locally-available feed resources such as sweet potato and cassava.

 These and many others further need to be taken on further into our development contexts. They can contribute to increase productivity and empower growth and advancement.  

Globally, science and technology processes have been positively influenced by improvements in information and communication technologies, in human skills and in institutional development.

Challenges of modernisation are at our doors, and we need to accept them in all aspects and move to close the gap with the developed world.

For such to happen, knowledge and intellectual capacity is required.

Knowledge is created through research, science and technology development.

This knowledge, when adopted, helps in solving or alleviating constraints to development.

 It, as well, enables new opportunities for development to be explored.

Results from many empirical studies world wide have suggested a 30% or greater return on investments in agricultural research.

 Many developed nations invest at least 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) in this area. 

The simple reason is that this investment gives a good return.

PNG has huge agricultural potential.

Thus the same can be anticipated.

Some effective integration of the potential of the “national innovation system,” is required to harness this potential.

This also requires input by responsible actors so that scientific research, improved technologies and knowledge are incorporated in the existing systems and practices so as to create a knowledge-based economy.

Thus the need for and potential of agricultural development and the capacities and potentials of research, science and technology should be harnessed through relevant innovation systems.

Science and technology are critical for improved agricultural production and productivity. The use of research, science and technology at NARI stands to benefit PNG livestock farmers with the development of low cost livestock feed using locally-available feed resources such as sweet potato

Milne Bay butterfly habitats unspoiled says British scientist

There are plenty of healthy habitats for butterflies and other creatures on Milne Bay povince’s Calvados Chain of Islands which are largely unspoiled, says a British entomologist and Pacific butterfly specialist. John Tennent, a scientific associate at the Natural History Museum in London, said his research had identified several species not previously recorded from Milne Bay as well as a significant number of butterfly species and subspecies not known to science.

British entomologist and Pacific butterfly specialist John Tennent

He has just returned from several weeks touring Milne Bay’s eastern Louisiades islands and is on his way back to England to stat the real work of sorting, identifying and publishing.
“Small dots on the map do not do the islands justice.
"The rugged islands of some of the Calvados Chain are stunning and there is a lot of healthy habitat out there which, because of the difficult terrain, has remained largely untouched,” he said.
“The data obtained during this research will be of critical value to researchers in other disciplines including biogeographers.
“The final results will include a comprehensive book on the 250 or so butterflies of Milne Bay Province islands.”
British High Commissioner to PNG, Jackie Barson, said the publishing of a book on Milne Bay’s butterflies would be an asset to the province and add to the growing data which confirms PNG as a mega biodiversity hotspot.
“I congratulate Mr Tennent on completing his research in the islands of Milne Bay.
“While this has undoubtedly been challenging, collaboration with other organizations such as Conservation International and the PNG Binatang Research Centre has helped make his work a lot easier,” she added.
Mr Tennent has been in Milne Bay Province since April 2010 carrying out a survey of the islands’ butterflies and has visited 76islands in the Province, and recorded butterflies on 74 of them.
He expects to spend most of his time in the coming year working on the specimens and the data collected during his time here, before returning to Milne Bay to tidy up loose ends early in 2012.
On many islands he has worked closely with the staff of Conservation International, an organisation for which he has nothing but praise.
He has also provided assistance in identifying butterflies to the PNG Binatang Research Centre in Madang.

OTML soon-to-be 100% PNG-owned

MINING giant Ok Tedi Mining Ltd will soon become 100% nationally-owned following the exit of shareholder Inmet Mining Corp next year, The National reports.

OTML managing director Alan Breens said this was a result of an agreement between the companies in which OTML would repurchase the previously announced 5% net smelter royalty (NSR) that Inmet was to receive from OTML.

The NSR is a fee which is a specific percentage of the revenue generated by a mine by selling its product, minus production expenses.

After seeking approval from the OTML board, Canadian company Inmet will now receive at closing the cash payment of US$335 million in lieu of its entitlements under the NSR arrangement.

Under the prior arrangement for the NSR, Inmet would have exchanged its 18% equity interest to OTML and at closing for that transaction, would have received a cash payment equal to 18% of OTML’s working capital and a 5% net smelter royalty on revenues of product produced from the Ok Tedi mine thereafter.

The NSR would have applied during Ok Tedi’s current mine life.

Breens said the closing of the NSR repurchase was expected to take place on or before Jan 31 next year.

He said OTML would then become 100% PNG-owned, with the state owning 36.6% and PNG Sustainable Development Program (PNGSDP) owning 63.4%.

 

 

Beon guards refuse to escort Kapris

Warders want payment

 

By JAYNE SAFIHAO

 

DISGRUNTLED prison officers at Beon Jail in Madang are refusing to provide armed escort to Papua New Guinea’s most infamous prisoner William Kapris Nanua, when he appears this week in the Madang National Court in relation to a Bank South Pacific armed robbery charge, The National reports.

The Correctional Services officers started their sit-in protest last Wednesday after word got out that the 11-strong CS contingent from Port Moresby, which had arrived three days earlier to provide extra security during the trial, had been paid ahead of them.

They told their bosses during a near-confrontation at Beon that they would not provide the armed escort for Kapris and his alleged accomplices unless they were assured of payment this week.

The good news, according to a senior officer yesterday, was that CS Commissioner Richard Sikani had given an undertaking that these officers would be paid this week.

Escorted by armed guard or not, Kapris and his co-accused are due to appear today before Justice David Cannings to enter a no-case submission. It is understood that a decision is expected by the end of the week.

Kapris, a convicted rapist and habitual prison escapee, had been charged with a serious of bank robberies, including the BSP Madang branch in which more than K2 million was stolen on July 25, 2008.

Last Wednesday, tempers flared which nearly turned into a fist fight between the warders and their bosses over outstanding administrative issues regarding delayed overtime and operation allowances for guarding Kapris and his co-accused.

 

 

Polye condemns reports over court challenge

By JEFFREY ELAPA

 

DEPUTY Prime Minister Don Polye has urged the public not to be manipulated and brainwashed by naïve political tactics employed by individuals and groups who are hell-bent on tarnishing the good name of the national government, The National reports.

Commenting on last week’s Post-Courier reports alleging that the prime minister had lost his court appeal challenging his referral to the public prosecutor, Polye said: “I challenge those individuals and groups, including the opposition, to think about how they can contribute meaningfully to the development of this nation instead of engaging in counter-productive bickering over

trivial matters, which, most likely, is for purposes of advancing their political interests other than anything else.”

The deputy prime minister said the matter relating to the referral of the prime minister was being addressed by the judicial system and it was wrong for groups and individuals to capitalise on the issue for their political gain or otherwise.

Polye, who is Works and Transport Minister, also called on young politicians not to be misled by the so-called veteran politicians who had little to show in terms of their contributions to the development of this country.

“I further call on the youths to be vigilant and ensure they do not become influenced by the cheap politicking that is, unfortunately, becoming an all-too-common practice that unpopular and weak leaders resort to demean other leaders,” Polye said.

He said there were more rewarding matters that journalists should give emphasis to allow for the public to reflect on and discuss rather than wasting time on exaggerating an issue that was still before the courts.

Polye said while freedom of expression and information were the cornerstone of PNG’s thriving democracy, it was unfortunate that some citizens tended to abuse their purposes for ill-conceived motives.

 

 

Ban sex education, lawyers meet told

By JULIA DAIA BORE

 

SEX education should be banned from schools, government chief specialist on lifestyle diseases Dr Thomas Vinit said, The National reports.

He said it should not be taught at primary and secondary schools “until the students are fully matured”.

 “Condom should not be promoted but let only as option for those who wish to take a risk for it is not 100% safe,” Vinit, who is the technical adviser in lifestyle diseases at the Health Department, made these known last Wednesday at the Constitutional and Law Review Commission (CLRC) conference in Alotau.

He also called on churches to speak out on their moral teaching on sex and marriage to promote abstinence and chastity, or being faithful in marriage; to promote good role models as saints and our Blessed Peter Torot instead of models who promote sexual promiscuity and beauty shows; all cultural values that promote abstinence and being faithful such as high bride price for virginity must be strengthen and encouraged and others that promote promiscuity and polygamy must be exposed and outlawed.

Vinit said adultery laws should be tougher to deter multiple sexual partners claiming that adultery was the main route of HIV/AIDS transmission.

He added that it had increasingly become PNG’s main instigator of criminal offences, describing the rise in the HIV/AIDS epidemic as frightening and no longer a health issue but an economic and a development issue which required a multi-sectoral approach.

Vinit told the conference that his focus was on adultery, “especially the Adultery Act to have it reviewed”.

He said this would lead to definite decreases in sexual transmitted diseases (STI).

“There will be decrease in the prevalence in HIV/AIDS, domestic violence and deaths related to adultery,” Vinit said, adding that the degree in incidents in tribal fights as a result of adulterous behaviour would no longer be; or that there would be better control of such behaviour.

He said also that the social and economic gains would better with there being less family break-ups “and I am sure you know of a lot of family break-ups”.

Vinit said children would be happier in a good and loving family home or environments where there were less adulterous parents.

“There will be a lot of money saved if there were less adulterous affairs.

“There will be decrease in tribal tensions and decrease in criminal activities; as those are effects of adultery and family break-ups.

“And spiritual benefits will increase as there will not be any family break-ups and, ultimately, family values in that love (in a family) is cherished.”  

He expressed concerns about media reports on a daily basis reflecting how “people now have not a care in life at all; they just can go and kill somebody”.

“And this is because the family values are not now being seen as very important.

“And it is in the family that love starts growing. And you can see that in families where there is love and caring, they will not enter into rascalism and even murder.”