Environmental Impact (EIA) of Large‑Scale Mining in Papua New Guinea: Sedimentology of Trace Metals from Mine‑Derived Materials Deposited in Fly River Floodplain

Abstract

This nearly 70-page EIA, prepared for the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), investigates the Ok Tedi copper–gold mine’s impact on Papua New Guinea’s Fly–Ok Tedi River system. It reveals that approximately 80,000 tonnes of ore-processing residues—plus comparable volumes of waste rock and overburden—are discharged into the headwaters daily en.wikipedia.org+6library.sprep.org+6pacific-data.sprep.org+6 . Over decades, this dumping has elevated river beds, causing altered flow patterns, severe flooding, and erosion of nearby croplands and forests. The report traces the spread of trace metals throughout the floodplain, assessing sediment metal concentrations and ecological risk. It highlights widespread environmental degradation: deforestation, reduced aquatic biodiversity, and polluted agricultural soils. These impacts threaten both ecosystems and the livelihoods of downstream communities, while also raising broader concerns about sustainable mining and the need for environmental safeguards in the Pacific.