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Research Project: Deep Sea Mine Tailings
| Independent Evaluation of Deep-Sea Mine Tailings Placement (DSTP) in Papua New Guinea | |
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Abstract: This work is funded by the European Union through the 8th European Development Fund. The main objectives are to critically assess all existing information on past and present mining operations using deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) in Papua New Guineau (PNG) and provide guidelines for future DSTP marine environmental monitoring in the context of international best practice. |
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| Research Project Information | |
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Runtime:
2007-02-15
until
2009-01-15
Contact:
Dr Tracy Shimmield
Project coordination:
Dr Tracy Shimmield
Contractor(s):
European Union 8th European Development Fund
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Lihir Mine
The purpose of the this project, which is a Mining Sector Support Programme (MSSP), is to evaluate existing deep-sea tailings placement practice in order to establish a consensual, clear, environmentally defensible, enforceable policy on the disposal of Deep Sea Tailings in PNG.
The objective of the MSSP is to sustain PNG’s economic performance through mineral production and exports, to increase employment opportunities, to alleviate poverty, and to mitigate environmental impacts through mining.
The study involves a compilation of all existing information from Mining Companies, Department of Environment Conservation (DEC, PNG) and Research Institutes, on the existing mining operations using DSTP in PNG (Lihir, Misima).
Information on similar projects around the world will be compiled to underpin the evaluation.
The critical assessment will identify what further fieldwork is required. This will consist of a discrete programme of activities carried out over a relatively short period and will include physical oceanographic, sedimentological, geochemical, plankton/nekton and benthic biological investigations.
Departments involved in this research project: