TK050 & TK2050 - Lihir Island Tailings Lines Projects

Type of project: Mining Infrastructure (Slurry)

Client: Newcrest
Location: Lihir Island, New Ireland, Papua New Guinea
Completed in: 2021 & 2023

Spiecapag successfully delivered two deep-sea tailings pipeline rehabilitation projects on Lihir Island, located 643 km off the coast of mainland Papua New Guinea, at a gold mine with dense infrastructure.

TK050, in 2020-2021, involved the recovery and reinstallation of a DN1200 HDPE liner pipe used for tailings placement to a water depth exceeding 100 m. The pipeline, over 200 m in length, was connected to a submerged tank that gravity-fed tailings to the ocean at a 37-degree angle.

TK2050, in 2023, focused on the removal and replacement of an existing 250m DN1200 HDPE tailings liner pipeline. The scope included removing the old liner, installing a hauling frame, welding and hydrotesting the new pipe, and securing it into a 33-degree offshore deep-sea tailings outfall.