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| Where the Frieda River meets the Sepik River. Image: Barbara Short. |
The Chinese-owned, Australian-incorporated company PanAust has plans to build a hugecopper and gold mine in Papua New Guinea just upstream of the mighty Sepik River.
The Sepik River is one of the largest uncontaminated freshwater wetland systems in the region.
Communities along the Sepik River are concerned that the mine could pollute the river system.
Communities along the Sepik River are concerned that the mine could pollute the river system.
This might then destroy vitally important tuna breeding areas in the Chambri lakes, and reduce other fish stocks along the entire length of the river.
Furthermore, they are also concerned that the mining project will lead to a significant increase in river traffic, with heavy industrial barges travelling up and down the river.
They fear this will act not only as a source of pollution, but that it will also accelerate river bank erosion - a key issue for many Sepik communities given the reliance on riverside gardens for subsistence agriculture.
Any pollution of the river from the mine would also pollute these riverbank gardens.
Pollution of the Sepik River has the potential to serious undermine local people’s food security. Mining and environmental experts are clear: if this development goes ahead, it will be impossible to avoid potentially permanent damage to this river system.
Jubilee Australia is concerned that affected communities have not given their free, prior and informed consent for the project. You can donate to our work on the Frieda River Mine here.
Pollution of the Sepik River has the potential to serious undermine local people’s food security. Mining and environmental experts are clear: if this development goes ahead, it will be impossible to avoid potentially permanent damage to this river system.
Jubilee Australia is concerned that affected communities have not given their free, prior and informed consent for the project. You can donate to our work on the Frieda River Mine here.
By donating to the Frieda River Mine campaign you will be supporting Jubilee Australia to work closely with our local partners in PNG, to fight for a Sepik River free of large-scale mining led by outside actors. Click HERE to donate.
You can read more about the project on the following links:
A threat on newly planned Frieda mine
Landowner anger grows about continuing mining destruction
A threat on newly planned Frieda mine
Landowner anger grows about continuing mining destruction
Source: Jubilee Australia Research Center. https://www.jubileeaustralia.org
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