“There will be no riverine disposal by the Frieda River Copper-Gold Project (FRCGP).”
This clarification comes from Phil McCormack, Project Director of Frieda River Limited (FRL), a part of PanAust Limited. Phil made the clarification to help the public understand the design of the proposed copper-gold development.
“Frieda River Copper-Gold Project will not dispose of its waste into the river system. It will protect the Sepik ecosystem at all costs, PanAust does not take lightly its commitment to ensuring the safe design, safe construction, and safe operation of the dam. PanAust is mindful of the ecosystem it is in including its host communities. As a values-driven organisation, it assures its host communities and governments that is committed to sustainably operating its business in an environmentally, socially, and culturally responsible way for the benefit of all stakeholders.” stressed Phil.
FRL is proposing to develop one of the world’s largest untapped copper-gold resource in a socially responsible way, through the multi-billion-kina Sepik Development Project (SDP) which includes the building of Frieda River Hydroelectric Project (FRHEP) which will include a 191-metre-high asphalt core rockfill dam as an integrated storage facility for the mine waste, and hydro power. The hydro power will be then fed through the Sepik Power Grid Project to ‘light up’ the region and stimulate commerce and industry and generate clean electricity for communities.
The design of the FRHEP dam is in accordance with international standards and uses the internationally recognised and proven dam construction method of asphalt core rockfill dams. There are numerous examples of asphalt core rockfill dams currently operating well in other parts of the world, including Asia, Europe, and the Americas, in similar high seismic and rainfall environments as the Sepik region.
“The Sepik Development Project is owned by PanAust, a high performing Australian based mining company that operates successful mines with waste rock and tailings storage facilities in Laos. We understand the importance of the Sepik ecosystem, where the project is based, and our work is committed to ensuring the safe design, construction, and operation of the dam for the long-term benefit of all its stakeholders,” emphasised Phil.
Phil said the significant lack of public infrastructure and services in the far-to-reach villages of the Sepik region was the reason for PanAust’s non-traditional mining approach to the Frieda River copper-gold resource.
“It is a transformative approach to the project for the Sepik region and Papua New Guinea, aimed at protecting the environment while enhancing living standards, and general well-being in the remote Sepik communities,” said Phil.
