18 Aug 2010

PNG's second biggest mine considers a deep sea tailings system

10:19 am on 18 August 2010

In Papua New Guinea, the developer of Madang's second biggest mine is considering a deep sea tailings placement system - similar to the one which has landed the Ramu nickel project developer, Ramu NiCo, in court and further delayed construction of its refinery in Basamuk in Madang's Astrolabe Bay.

Australian-based Marengo Mining Ltd has selected a site not too far from the Ramu NiCo's refinery and planned construction which had been put on hold following an interim injunction taken by a group of landowners who claimed the system would be environmentally damaging.

The newspaper, the National, reports Marengo is developing the Yandera copper-molybdenum-gold prospect in the Bismarck Range, several kilometres southwest of Ramu nickel's Kurumbukari nickel-cobalt mine.

Managing director, Les Emery, confirmed the Deep Sea Tailings Placement proposal but also pointed out that "a number of tailings disposal methods would continue to be evaluated.