The Papua New Guinea Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) has commended St Barbara for the application of modern technology in the safe operation of its deep-sea tailings placement (DSTP) pipeline and in its fleet of heavy equipment at its Simberi mine.
MRA managing director Jerry Garry, who visited the mine in New Ireland for the first time last week, was impressed with the use of geotagging in the monitoring of the DSTP line and the in-vehicle monitoring system (IVMS) which records operator activity in the equipment.
Garry said improvements were indicative of the mine moving beyond compliance requirements to values-based commitments as it transitions from oxide mining to sulphides.
The installation of the geo-tagging system on Simberi’s 540-km DSTP pipeline means exact coordinates of underwater images recorded by the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) can be transmitted in real time to the environment team via the global positioning system (GPS). The IVMS – which included a camera unit, vibrating seat cushion and warning lights – is monitoring operator/driver activities and identifying unsafe behaviours.
Garry, who was accompanied by his executive manager development coordination Andrew Gunua, took a tour of Simberi’s pit where he was fascinated by the use of the three-kilometre rope conveyor in ore delivery to the process plant.
They later visited a range of community projects built under St Barbara ‘Stronger Communities’ commitment.
Garry and Gunua also toured the Simberi cocoa nursery – the source of the current Tabar dark chocolate that is being trialled in New Ireland.
The duo also visited the Simberi Primary School, community markets, and Maragon Clinic – facilities that came from partnerships between St Barbara, Simberi Mining Area Landowner Association, and the New Ireland government.
The National / Pacific Mining Watch
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