The Huon Gulf deep sea trenches have been identified as a suitable location for deep sea tailings placement from the Wafi-Golpu Project.
The Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture (WGJV) presented during the PNG Mining and Petroleum Conference that the Huon Gulf deep sea trench was highly suitable.
Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture executive project director, Bryan Bailie, said in the presentation that local rivers, including the Markham, discharged 60 million tons per annum of natural sediment into the Markham Canyon, which reports to the New Britain Trench which is 9000 metres deep.
He said it was a highly disturbed environment, with regular purging of sediments through mass flow events and has low bio accumulated risk.
Huon Gulf is located on the northern coast of PNG, occupied by Morobe Province.
Huon Gulf offers spectacular scenery, accessible diving spots and a range of climates from sub-alpine and alpine to tropical.
Meanwhile, the Joint venture says a stable legislative and fiscal regime is critical to the development of the Wafi-Golpu Mine Project.
The component is among five key areas which the Joint Venture highlighted and include:
- The completion of the updated feasibility study, and Environmental Impact Statement;
- Completion of the permitting and approval by the Harmony and Newcrest boards;
- Sustained landowner and community support; and
- Ongoing close coordination between WGJV and Government agencies