Source: Post Courier

STAKEHOLDERS in the Ramu nickel/cobalt project have been assured there have been no significant environmental impact since the project’s commissioning.

They have also been assured by the project developer that the company was closely implementing the operational environment management plan (OEMP) as required under the Government issued environment plan.

Speaking during the project’s second quarter review in Kokopo last week, Ramu NiCo health, safety and environment officer Steven Opur said Ian Hargreaves and Associate (IHA) of Australia, an independent consultant, had been engaged by Ramu NiCo under the requirement of the Environment and Conservation Department.

Mr Opur said their work had covered eight components to identify the deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) impact, including fringing coral reef survey, marine fauna, upper ocean measurements, deep ocean biota, marine water quality, marine sediments characterisation, subsurface plume survey and acoustic seabed classification (ASC) survey.

These had been carried out at different locations at Basamuk, in the Raicoast district, extending to Saidor and up north to Alexishafen.

He said the survey concluded that no significant differences were found between surveys for 2007 and 2013 for fringes coral reef.