Villagers living along the coast of Madang are suffering double environmental harm from the Ramu nickel mine.
As well as the dumping of toxic tailings into their ocean from the Basamuk refinery plant, which started in May, villagers are complaining about the toxic smell from the sulphuric acid production plant.
Initially the mine owners, Chinese MCC and Australian based Highlands Pacific, were importing liquid sulphuric acid in containers to use in the processing operations but they are now importing sulphur in solid form from Indonesia and producing the acid on site.
The bad smells are emitted from the process of producing sulphuric acid and have produced complaints from workers as well as local villagers.
That’s no good. Any ideas on a solution to this?
Wes, look at engineering control i.e., modification of the sulhur mixing plant. The health impact of exposure to sulphur is loss of smelling sense.
I know, and you’re absolutely right Lagani.
\What I am saying is that there are no controls coming from the so called “central government” in Morseby.
Nothing at all.
They have no idea how to manage these things
I keep advocating that there be a movement to establish an EPA but even the staunch so called “environmentalists” reject the idea.
Despite the obvious and compelling needs for one.
Some people prefer conflict to solutions