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\ew Seismic \ework in Papua \ew
Guinea
The Port Moresby Geophysical Observatory (PMGO), a Branch of the Department of Mineral Policy and
Geohazards Management (DMPGM), has just completed installation of a new, 10- station seismic network
in Papua New Guinea. This has been made possible with the help of funding from the European Union (EU)
through a "Disaster Risk Reduction Project" implemented by the SPC. The new seismic network accounts for
about 30 per cent of a total of 3.3 million which has been allocated by EU to strengthen early warning systems
in Papua New Guinea.
The ten seismic stations have been installed at strategic locations in Papua New Guinea and these will monitor
earthquakes and related hazards (notably tsunamis). Locations of the new seismic stations are: Wewak,
Tabubil, Mount Hagen, Lae, Port Moresby, Alotau, Misima, Buka, Kavieng and Kimbe. Dr Russell Howorth of
SPC stated earlier that: "The focus of the project in PNG is to build resilience in communities and strengthen
early warning systems and communications. These seismic stations will transmit real time earthquake data to
PMGO Headquarters in Port Moresby using Telikom PNG's communications infrastructure. In turn this will be a
very important development for the National Disaster Centre as they will be better informed by PMGO to issue
early warnings to areas that may be affected by earthquake related hazards such as tsunamis."
The Secretary for DMPGM, Shadrach Himata, observes that: "Deployment of the new seismic network is a
significant achievement, fulfilling part of DMPGM's vision of creating a state -of- the -art geohazards monitoring
system in PNG by 2015. The next challenge is sustaining the network, for which GoPNG financial support is
vital ". Most of the new seismic stations have been established atTelekom sites in the Provinces and use Telikom
infrastructure to relay seismic data to PMGO. Telikom PNG Acting CEO, Charles Litau, observes: "Telikom as a
national company is pleased to be part of this project. By making the Telikom infrastructure available for early
warning communications, Telikom is assisting in the provision of a valuable service to communities in PNG that
are threatened by hazards related to earthquakes."
Pacific Network Limited (PNL) a PNG -based ICT solutions integrator was engaged to design, construct and
implement engineering and communications components of the project and to provide logistical support for
PMGO. PNL Technical Director, Nombri Dulume, stated: "Pacific Network Limited is very pleased that it was
able to contribute to the seismic network project."
Geoscience Australia (GA) helped PMGO in the overall
design of the network and guided the early stages
of the network deployment program.
Geophysical
Network Section Leader of GA, Tim Barton, said:
"Establishment of the new seismic network in PNG has
been a major capacity -building exercise.
It is hoped
that in time the data feeds from the network will be
shared with other agencies in order to grow a strong
seismic monitoring network for the southwest Pacific
region."
Newly installed seismic equipment.