The Norwegian Government has reportedly refused to buy shares in Emperor's parent company - DRD Gold - because of the pollution issue.

from ABC (Aus) - Emperor Mines spokesman Patrick Bindon says independent experts from Australia and PNG are studying water quality near the mine at Tolukuma, north of Port Moresby.

The Norwegian Government has reportedly refused to buy shares in Emperor's parent company, DRD Gold, because of the pollution issue.

Spokesman Bindon says he understands Norway's concern.

"A number of people, both from NGOs [non-government organisations] and from communities along the river have made their concerns about that process known and I think what we're seeing on behalf of the Norwegian Government is a reluctance to be involved in a process where there are such obvious concerns," he said.

Tulokuma area villagers worry about the purity of their water supply.

from Oxfam - The Tolukuma Gold Mine (TGM) operates in a mountainous region of Papua New Guinea, 100 kilometres north of Port Moresby. Waste tailings from the gold extraction process at the mine are discharged into the Auga-Angabanga river system, upon which downstream communities rely.

There is no road access to the area, so the mine relies heavily on helicopter transport. In 2000, one tonne of cyanide to be used in ore extraction was dropped from a helicopter during transit. In 2001. Community members wrote to the Mining Ombudsman requesting assistance.