Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

International miners in PNG should be more open says Resource Management expert

Posted at 22:06 on 21 May, 2010 UTC

A Resource Management expert says that international miners such operating in Papua New Guinea, should be more open with scientific data about their operations.

The Australia National University’s John Burton was commenting on the performance of Canadian miner Barrick Gold in Porgera in Enga province.

A group of Porgera locals has just visited Canada where they told parliamentarians that Barrick’s Porgera operations have created great social and environmental damage.

Dr Burton says that as part of the International Council on Mining and Metals, Barrick is obliged to provide valid data from sound scientific study of its environmental and social practices.

“There’s no such thing as science unless you release all the reports to the public. And, not just Barrick but all mining companies operating in Melanesia have been somewhat niggardly in releasing full scientific data. So that (releasing data) would be a step for us to be able to evaluate.”

John Burton.