Papuan

Water Into

Wealth

Results Soon in Papuan Hydro Survey

A DIRECTOR of New Guinea Resources Prospecting and De velopment Company, Mr. Peter Cunliffe, said in Port Moresby on December 20 that he believed that hydro-power could prove one of the greatest single factors in develop ing the Territory.

Hydro-electricity could lead to the establishment of heavy industries in Papua and New Guinea.

Mr. Cunliffe said his company ex pected to know by April or May whether the fast-flowing rivers on the Papuan southern coast could provide power in economic quantities.

Survey work in Arnhemland in the Northern Territory had shown deposits of bauxite, and if these proved worthwhile, hydro-electricity in Papua could be used for an aluminium processing plant, most likely at Yule Island. (Field units of the NG Resources Prospecting and Development Co. have been investigating the hydro electricity potential of the Western

Rivers of Papua for several years.

Their interest is in the processing of bauxite to make aluminium, for which vast quantities of com paratively cheap electricity are re quired. In the manufacture of aluminium this is the most import ant factor—the proximity of de posits of bauxite are a secondary matter. Some bauxite processed in

Canada is brought from Souti America but Northern Canada hsi the vital hydro-electricity potentis.

It is understood that if the Arnhem land bauxite deposits are tory, and sufficient electricity cs; be generated in Papua, the finish ing process of any aluminium produced will be undertaken at B«- Bay in Tasmania).