MMG provided a further update to pastoralists, Native Title holders and other members of the local community today on progress on the civil works to repair and clean up a site on the pipeline connecting its Century mine to its Karumba port facility following a breach of the pipeline on Monday 5 October.
The clean up at the site continues well. The zinc slurry that was discharged during the spill has been excavated and transported back to the mine tailings dam and work now continues on removing all remaining contaminated soil.
The excavated areas will then be filled with clean soil and a revegetation program to restore the area will be commenced.
The work has involved the use of several excavators, trucks and other civil works equipment to the area said MMG Century General Manager Mr John Lamb.
“We are committed to comprehensively and safely cleaning up the area and have deployed resources and equipment from Century and additional contractors to ensure the job is done properly.”
A complete clean up and rehabilitation plan has been developed with the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM). In addition to a revegetation program it includes ongoing environmental monitoring of the area.
MMG asks that motorists in the Gregory Downs area be aware of additional heavy vehicles on public and connecting roads while clean up and civil works are underway at the spill site.
“We are acutely aware of the inconvenience this has caused and are keeping the Floraville Station pastoralists and local community updated throughout with regular communication,” said Mr Lamb.
Works are currently underway to complete a bypass pipeline. The bypass pipe has been installed and welded and will be connected to the main pipeline over the next two weeks. A successful hydrostatic water test of this new section of pipeline was completed prior to its installation.
Once the bypass has been installed MMG will test the main line with water. Following a successful water test MMG will commence the process of remobilising the line before restarting zinc concentrate production and slurry flow through the pipeline.
“Cleaning up the area and getting the bypass in are high priorities for us right now,” said Mr Lamb.
“These are important activities and we are approaching them in a thorough and considerate fashion so it’s not how long it takes us but how well we do it that’s important.”
MMG is discussing potential impacts on production directly with its customers. High levels of zinc concentrate in the storage shed at the Karumba port facility have reduced following repair of the loading equipment last month. Sulphur dioxide emission monitoring in the local community has recorded zero levels at twice daily monitoring for over two weeks however MMG has instigated an ongoing program to monitor for emissions and offer confidence to the community that they have been eliminated.
For further information:
Sally Cox
Communications Manager
T 61 3 9288 0850 / 0417 144 524
E sally.cox@mmgroupltd.com
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