Mining firm responds to fish kill claims

Lihir Gold Limited (LGL) has assured the people of New Ireland, especially those from the Lihir group of islands, that the ocean around them remains safe for swimming and fishing activities.

“Keeping our people safe and healthy, and respecting our communities and environment is an integral part of Newcrest and LGL’s values. We remain fully committed to excellence in sustainable environmental performance,” said General Manager Chris Jordaan.

“Lihir has a comprehensive environmental monitoring and management plan approved by the PNG Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), aimed at the early detection of any potential impacts to land, water, air quality and amenity. LGL can confirm that the ocean around Lihir remains safe to swim and fish in.”

The company was responding to concerns expressed through social media on 23 March 2019 on an alleged fish kill incident.

LGL has conducted internal investigations and community outreach and has found no evidence of any fish kill, and no recorded concern raised by any of the local communities recently to LGL’s community relations team.

LGL says the photographs recently posted on Facebook were taken early in January 2016, following fish kill at Malie, Zuen and Sinambiet: an event that was thoroughly investigated by CEPA with assistance from LGL.

CEPA’s investigation of the 2016 fish kill had concluded that the fish incident was caused by an extended period of low tide, where the depth of low tide exceeded 2.5 metres for the first time. This meant that the sea level dropped much lower and for much longer than is usually the case during low tide occurrences. This was not linked to any mining activity.

In acknowledging and thanking the people of New Ireland for raising their concerns on the alleged occurrence, Jordaan said LGL continues to remain committed to full transparency in all activities and welcomes the opportunity to have direct interactions or discussions with concerned community members who wish to raise their concerns.

LGL also noted that there is an established formal process for lodging complaints or grievances—supported by facts—with LGL and the relevant Government agencies, and encouraged any aggrieved stakeholders to utilise this process so that alleged incidents can be formally investigated.

Author: 
Press release