Alluvial gold mining continues to play a significant part in the country’s resource sector with its annual export revenue contributing significantly to the nation’s annual budgets; however, there negative implications that come along with it.
These negativity impacts were stressed by Mr. Rodney Biri, who is a tutor for Agriculture Research at the University of Goroka in Eastern Highland province.
Mr. Biri, who hails from Central Bougainville, shared his experience with PNG HAUSBUNG at the margins of the 2nd Geoscience, Exploration & Extraction 2024 (GEE 2024) Conference in Port Moresby after giving an enlightening presentation on the subject.
He said alluvial mining or small-scale mining, poses a significant threat to the environment with the use of the liquid metal mercury and the methods used to extract the gold deposits.
Meanwhile, Mr. Biri also thanked the Mineral Resource Authority (MRA) and its sponsors for hosting the GEE 2024, stating that it has given him the opportunity to talk on this important matter, and helped him to appreciate the other important matters as well in the resource sector.
“I find it very helpful in that people come in and share their ideas. People talk about mining, and I realized that no one was talking abut the impacts of alluvial mining. I was the only who did, and it was greatly appreciated by the participants.”