SUMMARY OF DETECTED MINING AND PROCESSING PLANT IMPACTS / FURTHER RISKS / LABORATORY DATA (FACTSHEET): CHART (SCHEMATIC) – RAMU NiCo PLANTS OVERVIEW NORTH MSC-NW MADANG Ramu River Bismarck Bay -Coral Triangle DSTP-P RPP SP MSC-SE LQ KKM ca. 50 km KKM Kurukumbari Mine SP Slurry Pipeline RPP Ramu Processing Plant LQ Limestone Quarry DSTP-P Deep Sea Tailings Placement Pipeline MSC Monsoonal Sea Currents CHART (SCHEMATIC) – COARSE AND FINE SAMPLING PATTERN AS PER EIA Kar Kar Island NORTH Bagabag Island Kwar River MSC-NW Basamun Villages & Islands around Madang MADANG Ramu River Bismarck Bay -Coral Triangle Long Island Erima Mundip DSTP-P RPP Mirindiri SP Dangari MSC-SE Lamtub Kambara River Saidor LQ Yandar River KKM Ulia River Ramin River ca. 50 km Dumpu Sampling points KKM Kurukumbari Mine SP Slurry Pipeline RPP Ramu Processing Plant LQ Limestone Quarry DSTP-P Deep Sea Tailings Placement Pipeline MSC Monsoonal Sea Currents Fact 1: Kar Kar Island CHART (SCHEMATIC) NORTH Bagabag Island Kwar River MSC-NW Basamun Villages & Islands around Madang MADANG Ramu River Bismarck Bay -Coral Triangle Long Island Erima Mundip DSTP-P MSI RPP Mirindiri SP Dangari MSC-SE Lamtub Kambara River Saidor LQ Yandar River KKM Ulia River Ramin River ca. 50 km Dumpu Sampling points KM MSI SP RPP LQ DSTP-P MSC Kurukumbari Mine Mining Sediment Impacts Slurry Pipeline Ramu Processing Plant Limestone Quarry Deep Sea Tailings Placement Pipeline Monsoonal Sea Currents Denuded rainforest in Kurukumbari mine allows laterite erosion during monsoonal rainfalls. Winds can carry laterite dust particles far away and deposit them elsewhere. Eroded sediments reach through canyons the Ramu River and dry-out the swamps with the consequence that the crocodiles disappeared in the upper river section. All impact parameters and expected risks described in the “Ramu Nickel Mine: Preliminary review of risks facing the Ramu Catchment” by MPI (Mineral Policy Institute), 2005 Fact 2: Kar Kar Island CHART (SCHEMATIC) NORTH Bagabag Island Kwar River MSC-NW Basamun Villages & Islands around Madang MADANG Ramu River Bismarck Bay -Coral Triangle Long Island SI Erima Mundip DSTP-P MSI RPP Mirindiri SP Dangari MSC-SE Lamtub Kambara River Saidor LQ SI Yandar River KKM Ulia River Ramin River ca. 50 km Dumpu Sampling points KM MSI SP SI RPP LQ DSTP-P MSC Kurukumbari Mine Mining Sediment Impacts Slurry Pipeline Slurry Impacts Ramu Processing Plant Limestone Quarry Deep Sea Tailings Placement Pipeline Monsoonal Sea Currents Repaired segment of the slurry pipeline (burst from March 2019) Slurry from pipeline leaks will contaminate the soil bodies and cause a serious danger for the groundwater in agricultural areas. Missing is a protective foundation (trough). Fact 3: Kar Kar Island CHART (SCHEMATIC) NORTH Bagabag Island Kwar River MSC-NW Basamun DSTP Villages & Islands around Madang MADANG Ramu River Bismarck Bay -Coral Triangle Long Island SI Erima Mundip DSTP-P MSI RPP Mirindiri SP Dangari MSC-SE Lamtub Kambara River Saidor LQ SI Yandar River KKM Ulia River Ramin River ca. 50 km Dumpu Sampling points KM MSI SP SI RPP LQ DSTP-P DSTP MSC Kurukumbari Mine Mining Sediment Impacts Slurry Pipeline Slurry Impacts Ramu Processing Plant Limestone Quarry Deep Sea Tailings Placement Pipeline Deep Sea Tailing Placement Monsoonal Sea Currents The tailings disposed of by DSTP to the sea have a volume of 1,700 m3/h. Composition: Sulphuric acid, diluted with sea water (mix tank), Lime milk, Various clay minerals from the laterite soils, Residues and by-products from the extraction of Ni and Co raw materials, Fine fractions of the heavy metals and semimetals as well as other compounds associated to them by mineralogical-genesis processes, which either cannot be recovered during processing or are of no economic interest. According to investigations by the CEPA (report dated 18 October 2019), the following heavy metals and semi-metals have been determined: Ni, Co, Fe, Fe2+, Al, Cr, Mn, Mg, Zn, Ca, Sc: Total 91.34 g/l, with a pH of 1.2. Blended with lime milk to increase the pH to 8.0, and diluted with sea water at the ratio 1:1, in the 1,700 m3, the enormous amount of 77.6 t/h of the determined heavy and semi-metals are disposed into the sea. The fine fraction portion of these components (nanoparticles and those up to 40 μ) are - spilled into the water - subject to fluid-chemical laws (stability, surface charges, interactions with each other resp. agglomeration behaviour, buoyancy), which keep these particles in suspension, so that they do not drift off after discharge from outfall terminus into a deeper canyon as claimed by Ramu NiCo. Rather they will be captured by the marine currents and transported over long distances, contaminating marine fauna and coastlines, including those of the islands. In a tailings sample, collected on the Basamuk beach, 26.9 g/l of the spectrum of these components have been detected, meaning 14.7% of the totally spilled tailings are subject of a suspension in the sea (analogically converted to 11.4 t/h). Based on the findings, the balance for marine ecology is highly questionable. Fact 4: Kar Kar Island CHART (SCHEMATIC) NORTH Bagabag Island Kwar River MSC-NW Basamun DSTP Villages & Islands around Madang MADANG Ramu River Bismarck Bay -Coral Triangle SI Long Island FS Erima Mundip DSTP-P MSI RPP Mirindiri SP Dangari MSC-SE Lamtub Kambara River Saidor LQ SI Yandar River KKM Ulia River Ramin River ca. 50 km Dumpu Sampling points KM MSI SP SI RPP LQ DSTP-P FS DSTP MSC Kurukumbari Mine Mining Sediment Impacts Slurry Pipeline Slurry Impacts Ramu Processing Plant Limestone Quarry Deep Sea Tailings Placement Pipeline Factory Spills Deep Sea Tailing Placement Monsoonal Sea Currents Tailings in the storage pond (mix-tank) of the processing factory have been spilled several times into the sea. 4 known spills occurred: April 6, 2019 (Tailings, unknown volume) August 24, 2019 (Tailings, 200’000 Litres) Last week of September 2019 (Sulphur Acid, unknown volume) October 24, 2019 (Tailings, unknown volume) A tailings spill of 200’000 liters into the Astrolabe Bay corresponds (as per proportional comparison) pouring a cup of coffee into a sport hall filled with water (swimming pool). The dilution occurs fast. Problematic are the marine fauna which are at the wrong time at the wrong place, and the following impact to the marine food chain (e.g. fishery, humans). Fact 5: Kar Kar Island CHART (SCHEMATIC) NORTH Bagabag Island Kwar River MSC-NW Basamun DSTP Villages & Islands around Madang MADANG Ramu River Bismarck Bay -Coral Triangle SI Long Island FS Erima Mundip DSTP-P MSI RPP Mirindiri SP Dangari MSC-SE Lamtub Kambara River Saidor LQ SI Yandar River FF KKM Ulia River Ramin River ca. 50 km Dumpu Sampling points KM MSI SP SI RPP LQ DSTP-P FF FS DSTP MSC Kurukumbari Mine Mining Sediment Impacts Slurry Pipeline Slurry Impacts Ramu Processing Plant Limestone Quarry Deep Sea Tailings Placement Pipeline Factory Fume Factory Spills Deep Sea Tailing Placement Monsoonal Sea Currents Depending on schedule and sequences of the processing in the factory, various kinds of fumes are generated (inter alia from own production of sulphur acid). The grey fumes are causing eye and skin irritations to the Mirindiri population, including coughing. In addition, the probable formation of dust particles carried out in the ambient should be analyzed. Fact 6: Kar Kar Island CHART (SCHEMATIC) NORTH Bagabag Island Kwar River MSC-NW Basamun DSTP Villages & Islands around Madang MADANG Ramu River TI Bismarck Bay -Coral Triangle SI Long Island TI FS Erima Mundip DSTP-P MSI RPP Mirindiri SP Dangari MSC-SE Lamtub Kambara River Saidor LQ SI Yandar River FF KKM Ulia River Ramin River ca. 50 km Dumpu Sampling points KM MSI SP SI RPP LQ DSTP-P FF FS DSTP TI MSC Kurukumbari Mine Mining Sediment Impacts Slurry Pipeline Slurry Impacts Ramu Processing Plant Limestone Quarry Deep Sea Tailings Placement Pipeline Factory Fume Factory Spills Deep Sea Tailing Placement Tsunami Impacts Monsoonal Sea Currents Tsunami risk: The Basamuk Sea is known as high-risky seismic area. In such an exposure, at the occasion of a Tsunami impact, the Ramu Processing Plant which has no protection walls at all, would be destroyed, and spills of dangerous products in large quantities on stock (slurry product, tailings, sulphur acid, raw materials, non-protected stock of sulphur) would contaminate the sea as well as a wide terrestrial area, causing a catastrophic environmental disaster. Processing Plant without Tsunami wall protection Genesis of Tsunami Sulphur, non-protected on stock in the Processing Plant Tsunami protection walls in Japan Fact 7: New phenomena: Cyanobacteria (Trichodesmium Bloom) carpets or filaments floating on the sea: In October 2019, about 3 km from the coast and about 10 km NW of the Basamuk Plant, algae-like, brown-red carpets and filaments were spotted on the sea, which drifted due to current (actual seasonal sea current SE to NW) direction Madang. Fishermen, both from coastal villages and those from the fishing port of Madang, have confirmed that they have now seen this phenomenon for the first time. In addition, scared residents of the Madang Lagoon, where these filaments were washed ashore for the first time in October, have contacted the Madang authorities. The determination by marine biologists has shown that these are colonies of the cyanobacteria "Trichodesmium Bloom". These bacteria are the subject of numerous scientific publications, which are reflected herein only as a roughly summary. Thereafter, these bacteria owe their genesis and biochemical symbiosis with other bacteria and microorganisms to excess iron, nitrogen and phosphorus of anthropogenic origin. These substances reach the surface of the sea either via the atmosphere by means of fine dust, deposited on the surface of the sea, or by disposal of these substances into the sea. Occasionally, the biochemical formation of toxins is known which cause mortalities in some copepods, fish, and oysters. Blooms have also been credited with releasing the toxin which causes clupeotoxism in humans after ingesting fish which have bioaccumulated the toxin during Trichodesmium blooms affecting the fauna in coral reefs. Sampling and analysis by the SVQ Scientific Team revealed that these bacteria show an extremely high content of arsenic (see Assessment Analysis Session 3 ). In a test in the villages of Pik Island, the locals could be impressively shown that the small fish, dropped into the bin with these bacteria, died within a few minutes. Without making any premature conclusions at present, it is pointed out that the plant in Basamuk disposes large amounts of arsenic, a cobalt-associated metalloid, released at the occasion of refining the cobalt, into the sea. Fact 8: Assessment Analysis Session 1 (last week of May 2019): Results of laboratory analysis (17.07.2019) on taken samples of agricultural soils, beach sand, water from river and sea, including drinking water, and food such as fishes, crabs and Taro potatoes, show for most samples presence and very high concentrations of heavy metals (matching with the mining range), much above the allowed limit values. The Eluates analysis gives evidence of mobilization stage of the contaminants. The dark violet marked numbers are to be considered very dangerous. Assessment Analysis Session 2 (last week of September 2019): Results of laboratory analysis (17.10.2019) on taken samples of beach sand and various food plants show for most samples presence and very high concentrations of heavy metals (matching with the mining range), much above the allowed limit values. The Eluates analysis gives evidence of mobilization stage of the contaminants. The dark violet marked numbers are to be considered very dangerous. Regarding the baby Dolphin, perished on the beach of Saidor village on September 23, the laboratory analysis data are: Ni Zn Mn Hg mv mv mv mv 4.9 64.0 28.0 1.2 almv almv almv almv 0.2 50.0 0.5 0.15 Cu Cr Cd mv mv mv 4.1 almv 6.2 almv 1.9 almv 1.0 0.5 0.02 All ciphers in mg/kg (measured values = mv, allowed limit max values = almv) Conclusion: The baby Dolphin was poisoned by an over-dose of a cocktail of heavy metals. Assessment Analysis Session 3 (2nd week of October 2019): Results of laboratory Analysis (31.10.2019) (key data): Generally: Sample 1: Analyzed samples of solids show the same contamination picture as in previous Assessments. Truck load of Cr, spilled in Ulia River by bridge collapse in the first week of June, shows high concentrations of Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Zn (CrIII will be transformed by oxidation to the highly toxic CrVI). Sample 5: Red algae (Trichodesmium Bloom) carpets floating on the sea (new phenomenon) show high concentrations of As in lethal concentration (origin of As: Associated to Co, released by refining). Radioactivity: Analysis on selected Isotopes shows normal values (Becquerel-values below 370 Bq/kg). Assessment analysis session 4 (1st week of November 2019) The Assessment 4 aimed the analysis of areas in which no direct or indirect effects of Ramu NiCo's activities are to be expected due to the general and specific impact findings. Thus, following the environmental standards, according to which not only negative, but also positive data must be recorded. As a result, sedimentary deposition was taken in the Kwar-1, Yandar and Kambara rivers in the bed load deposition zones. The sediment samples of the rivers clearly show that the entire region is contaminated with a general geo-genic (i.e. natural) spectrum of heavy metals, namely pronounced with copper and manganese, and subordinated with nickel, chromium and cadmium, all of which are contained in the magmatic or volcanic rock formations and which have been mobilised by natural weathering. This would clarify the presence of the high copper and manganese contents in all samples of the previous Assessment analyses. As all samples of the earlier assessments contain above average values of nickel, chromium and cadmium, it is proven that these must be attributed to the activities of Ramu NiCo. Assessment analysis session 5 (January 2020): Sampling Basamuk factory tailings Sampling Kurukumbari mine slurry product (expected dangerous products: Sulphur Acid and Drag Reducing Agents DRA) Sampling Kurukumbari laterite soil Completing the Socio-Economic Assessment on economic damage regarding the fishing ban, released by the Madang Provincial Administration (main data bank and conclusions already elaborated, statistical alignment still to be done). Monitoring Astrolabe Bay shelf sea bottom by underwater camera drone Medical Assessment with Swiss and European Medical Experts, probably in cooperation with the Ywan Medical Ship (Australian-PNG Joint Cooperation). TBD Applied standards for the Environmental Assessment: ISO 9’001 ISO 14’001 EIA Environmental Impact Assessment (by International Association for Impact Assessment IAIA) As far as useful, in regards of the allowed limit values of contaminants in soil, water and food, the European, German or Swiss Decrees (updated by last cognitions) have been taken as guideline. CONCLUSIONS (preliminary): A program of immediate measurements must be taken to avoid further contamination impacts, protecting the population and the environment. A program of restoring of the contaminated / damaged areas must be executed. A socio-economic research must be embarked to quantify the caused damage on population, nature, infrastructure and fishery industry. PNG needs updated laws, decrees and regulations, allowing the Authorities to enforce them without asking the causers in question for visit permits. The solution: Mutual cooperation (Experts, Authorities, MCC/Ramu NiCo company). REMEDIATION / RESTORING OF SWISS KÖLLIKEN HEAVY METALS AND ORGANIC WASTE DUMP: 50 m Remediation schedule: 2005 – 2016 (11 years) Cost over all: USD 901 Mio. Dr. Alex Mojon, Expert Updated January 20, 2020