A fine of up to K10,000 or a prison term of up to four years will be imposed on alluvial miners who carry out unauthorised semi mechanised or mechanised mining in the country.
Under the Mining Act 1992, section 167 says, “a person shall not carry on exploration or mining on any land unless he is duly authorised under this Act”.
As part of these regulatory compliance responsibilities, the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) has warned alluvial miners who may be conducting unauthorised semi mechanised or mechanised alluvial mining to stop their activities.
This issue of unauthorised alluvial mining is predominant in the Wau and Bulolo areas of the Morobe Province.
In a statement, the MRA said it issued 13 stop work notices to individuals engaged in these illegal activities in the area.
“Such activities are not only illegal but pose substantial environmental and safety risks to miners themselves and the surrounding communities,” stated the MRA.
“The deaths of alluvial miners from cave-ins caused by unauthorised mining activities, and failures to adhere to safety requirements, has become common. Tunnelling and sluicing as part of these unauthorised operations has damaged local roads, especially between Wau and Bulolo.”
The area has a long history of alluvial mining that dates back to the 1920s. At present there are 81 active alluvial mining tenements and 50 inactive historic tenements granted under the previous mining legislation.
The 50 historic tenements are yet to be converted to alluvial leases recognised under the current Mining Act 1992. Once converted, the terms of these converted tenements would then ensure key safety and environmental aspects of mining operations are regulated appropriately.
MRA Acting Managing Director, Nathan Mosusu, has appealed to miners to adhere to the regulatory requirements. He said the MRA has in the past demonstrated its openness and commitment to developing the alluvial sector in collaboration with miners, but it is their obligation is to ensure they operate in compliance.
“I am asking miners to work with MRA for the betterment of the sector. Together we can achieve results,” he said.
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