LETS WORK TOGETHER AND ADDRESS THE RAMU NICKEL ISSUES

The proposed Ramu Nickel Cobalt Mine whilst driven with the interest of promoting foreign direct investment must be properly scrutinised under its planned use of submarine tailings disposal which could drastically affect the wellbeing of the commercial fishery and the livelihood of the people of Madang Province. 

This is an issue that has seen Members of Parliament from other provinces taking the initiative to open discussions on the viability and security of the planned use of submarine tailings disposal whilst the Member for Madang has taken a huge backstage on the issue, without any admittance of fear as Madang District coastlines are more vulnerable with the way undercurrents and tides can shift. 

It has seem that Buka Malai needs to be educated well on the context of such a potentially destructive proposal given the fact the he has yet to demonstrate his ability to participate meaningfully in the development process of his district in joining the debate in parliament. By being absent minded about the magnitude of the issue is a direct violation of his legislative function and thereby holding the people’s future in ransom. Quite frankly, the adequacy of representation by virtue of the mandate has no relevance to the future of the public who are already endangered. 

Economically, Madang is so privileged to have the RD Tuna Canners Ltd. It is a big fishing investment company that catches tuna and produces canned tuna products for local and overseas markets. There is now this major concern that Ramu nickel mine refinery by using the submarine tailings disposal method to discharge its waster into the seafloor of Basamuk Bay may affect the conduct of RD Tuna and simultaneously impinge on the surrounding environment.

This point is put without bias as Ramu Nickel Cobalt Mining has every right to defend and prove its proposal, let alone the scientific tests conducted. It is also the wish of the people to see the project materialise but public concerns are equally paramount, especially if there are direct uncertainty by the local dwellers. By the same token, the success of the submarine tailings must be proven beyond reasonable doubt to satisfy any credible arguments against the proposed arrangement. This has unfortunately become the quagmire in accepting the tonnes of possibly active spillages from the submarine tailings. 

While we fully respect the gigantic investment by the Chinese Government we are also concerned about our environment. After the global economic recession India and China have been powering the economy recovery and Papua New Guinea through this project is privileged to be chosen as an investment destination. Many people have been misled because of the publicities surrounding the submarine tailings and it will be also unfair to make the Ramu Nickel development suffer after millions of kina have been already spent. The company has reportedly been losing K7 million kina a day will need to recoup the amount somewhere somehow. In essence the current court battles between the locals and the company have been long but it seen stronger debates on the issue raised. 

It is really the wish of the people in Madang to see the Ramu Nickel Investment reached its final development stage. But we are equally concerned regarding the repercussions of the submarine tailings if what is being said is true. As the immediate neighbour of Rai Coast our people stand a greater chance of being the first group of casualties given the direction of the undercurrents. The movements of the tide are adequate to affect the coastline of Madang and that remains our biggest fear. It is also frightening to note that other investments will also be affected causing a downturn in our economy.

Take a look at the RD Tuna Canners currently earning a net profit of several millions of kina It also provides employment for more than a thousand cannery workers and can be seen as one of the largest employers in the district. The RD Tuna Canners would at the same time be one of the largest user and buyer of water, utilities and electricity. Its operations have had some criticisms but to date they have done well in the economic development of the province. annually. 

Other associated business activities involving industrial fisheries services such as stevedoring, agencies, ship repair, supplies, etc. has also provided additional revenue and employment for more than one thousand workers. Since it is now exporting to the European markets there would be more shipping lines moving in to provide transportation to and from other countries. It is our wish that such will be the case and the Marine Park will also stand to gain.

Furthermore, the new development of restaurants, stores, shopping malls, and housing would all depend on the success of the RD Tuna Canners and Marine Park. However, all of these major multimillion kina investments are now bound to be severely affected if the planned use of submarine tailings disposal does not come under tougher environmental scrutiny and standards. This is a case where it must be pursued to greater heights and more research and tests ought to be conducted to satisfy the doubts in our minds. At the moment, very few people seem to understand the possible repercussions of such a proposition. Or those who do not know are misleading the general public. Yes we do agree that every development has an opportunity cost tag attached to it. But the heavy negative publicity is weakening the views offered by the company.

The substantive argument currently encompassing the submarine tailing is on the dumping of the waste materials into the Basamuk Bay which is likely to bring the waste closer to feeding areas where the marine life are in abundance. It is clear that the content of the tailings will be fine waste particles carrying heavy metals to the food cycle where the fish can possibly feed on or can take up these metals through their gill membranes. The fact that these particles can float will mean that it will affect their breeding spots and interactive habitat, thus interfering with their cycle. These waste substances are quite dangerous and can even include sharp and pointed particles which can damage the skin and cause infection to the marine life like coral bleaching and importantly the fish stock.

The arguments hold that the continuous dumping of waste rocks and soil into Basamuk Bay will finally reach a certain level thus making the sea contaminated once the refinery starts discharging the tailings. This will see the fish species reacting as a result of the sudden change in water quality and high mortality rates. The most immediate impact then will be the disruption of migratory routes and total fragmentation on their nursery precincts. 

In the process the tuna survival will be greatly affected and reduced as they feed on smaller fish stocks who may have all been infected. Whilst infection rate will take its toll on the smaller fish stock who are mostly feeding the food chain the tuna will be at a total disadvantage by being found in the deep waters. The tuna species migratory routes and their acclimatisation process will cause a sudden decline in the fishing industry. A direct consequence of such is likely to strain the fishing industry and the Marine Park.

Most tuna and other fish stock will no longer be able to access proper feeding support and relentlessly dieting on infected waste materials.  Such damages will spread over hundreds and thousands of square kilometres and gradually killing the pillars of the food chain. The local people along the coastlines of Madang and Rai Coast who are the main consumers of fish will be subject to very high undesirable risks never seen before. The experiences of Tolokuma, Ok Tedi, Angabanga River and Bougainville are some of the classic examples that are worthy of consideration.

Currently RD Tuna is enjoying a higher economic advantage as there is no pollution to affect the tuna stock whilst the Bismarck Sea is yet to be subject to the consequences of similar operations like the Ramu Nickel submarine tailings disposal. In this case there is a clear cut fear that the pollution triggered by the submarine tailings may cause the tuna catch to fall and will affect RD Tuna's business operations and cannery output. The RD Tuna's fishing vessels will be catching less tuna stock at the current cost and it will also mean that, more costly efforts would be required to catch the reduced tuna stock available at the current operation level. Economic development will then be subject to the scale of diminishing returns.

Today the Papua New Guinea government is happy because industries like RD Tuna Canners are able to access the European Union markets under the Cotonou Agreement. The agreement states that "any tuna species caught within 12 TNMZ will be accorded originating status for the purpose of exporting into EU member countries". With the current export quota of 1000 metric tonnes per year, RD Tuna Canners is privileged to be supplying a substantial percentage. The returns are good as employment opportunities and other spinoffs are empowering the local people.

But if the submarine tailing disposal issues are not satisfactorily addressed then the price that consumers in Europe would be willing to pay for the tuna products may be based on the perceived quality of the tuna species.  With the current negative publicity surrounding the submarine tailings disposal of Ramu Nickel there will be definite questions raised on the quality of tuna products caught within the 12 TNMZ where the purported tailings could have already contaminated the tuna stock. 

Under such circumstances the EU markets may not allow RD Tuna's tuna products to be imported and sold in their countries. Once such an economic backlash occurs then RD Tuna will lose its lucrative European markets, where exports  have netted  substantially in foreign exchange. By then the huge Marine Park investment may become the biggest economic investment blunder simply because all the tuna products from wherever in Papua New Guinea may be declared unfit for human consumption. This will become a serious case as the waste being dumped through the submarine tailing will be in tonnes.

Economically, Madang will immensely loose out on its current advantages. The decrease in tuna stock in the Bismarck Sea due to the highly migratory nature of the tuna species may also affect the production capacities of South Sea Tuna and Frabrelle Limited factories. Even the Selleo Fishing Group  and all the coastal people may stop catching fish, as more effort would be required to catch fewer fish due to the reduction in fish stock. In a worse case scenario, they may not be allowed to sell contaminated fish. Another recreation exercise that might be significantly affected is the popular game fishing sport that attracts anglers from within PNG and abroad. All of these foreseen circumstances will affect the economic growth in Madang province and severely devastate the wellbeing of the local people.

Therefore, it is now incumbent upon the Governor for Madang Sir Arnold Amet to see how best the issues highlighted will be addressed.  By the same token the Member for Madang Buka Malai who does not seem to know what is going on at the moment must start engaging in discussions and ensure that the people and investment climate of his electorate are not in any manner endangered. It appears that the Member for Madang in his self imposed isolation and confusion should strongly come out and immediately participate in these discussions. 

However, leaders in Madang also have an obligation to ensure that the investment by the mining company is not subject to personal agendas. In recent years we have witnessed a lot of new development taking place and Madang stands to gain if the investment concerns are addressed well in time. On record many people are happy that such an investment will bring in new opportunities for development. By the same token we must not punish the company to an extent where it is losing millions. It would be wise to allow more dialogue and there must be some room for consensus on this issue. Basically, the public must be informed and educated well on the issues that have been raised and through that process we can all decide if the safety measures attached to the submarine tailings will have less environmental implications.