RNZ
Sea front in Madang, Papua New Guinea. Photo: RNZI/ Johnny Blades
After successfully stopping one sand mining project, Papua New Guinea environmentalists now want the government to tighten the rules around the industry.
A Singaporean company, Niugini Sands, last week dropped plans to mine the black sands along the Madang coast, with director, Marcus Ong, saying bad publicity was pivotal in their decision.
The environmental group, Mas Kagin Tapani, advocated for the more than 10,000 who lived in communities along a 38 kilometre stretch of the shoreline in Madang province.
They also wanted to ensure breeding grounds for endangered Leatherback Turtles weren’t threatened.
Sea front in Madang, Papua New Guinea.
Photo: RNZI/ Johnny Blades
A Singaporean company, Niugini Sands, last week dropped plans to mine the black sands along the Madang coast, with director, Marcus Ong, saying bad publicity was pivotal in their decision.
The environmental group, Mas Kagin Tapani, advocated for the more than 10,000 who lived in communities along a 38 kilometre stretch of the shoreline in Madang province.
They also wanted to ensure breeding grounds for endangered Leatherback Turtles weren t threatened.
Spokesman, Wenceslaus Magun, said people were delighted but their job was still not done.
He said there was an insatiable demand for sand around the world but PNG had no relevant laws to govern the practice and the government s Mineral Resources Authority, the MRA, must develop new policies and rules to govern the sector.
Sea front in Madang, Papua New Guinea. (file image)
Photo: RNZI/ Johnny Blades
A Singaporean company, Niugini Sands Limited, is understood to be close to getting the go ahead from local authorities to start exploration of the site, despite growing local opposition.
A former PNG chief justice and cabinet minister said the coastal communities in the Sungilbar local level government district of Madang Province had been denied their constitutional rights.
Sir Arnold Amet contended that mining the sands would impact on thousands of people and threaten the environment, including the breeding grounds of endangered leatherback turtles.
According to Sir Arnold, the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA), which is considering granting permission to Niugini Sands to start exploration, has not ensured the communities have been fully informed.