Minister for Mining

The Minister’s announcement comes in response to concerns raised by Governor for Northern Province, Gary Juffa, regarding the participation of foreigners in the activities of alluvial mining that is supposed to be reserved for Papua New Guineans.

Governor Juffa, in a supplementary question to the Minister for Mining expressed concerns regarding the participation of foreigners in the activities of alluvial mining in the country.

He expressed that alluvial mining activities are reserved for only Papua New Guineans.

Western Governor Taboi Awi Yoto asked the Minister when the report will be tabled because he needed to access the funds for development projects in the province.

“I understand there is moratorium on the trust account and a legal case. But I believe also that the report is ready so when will it be tabled? And how soon can I access the funds for development purposes?” Governor Yoto asked in Parliament last week.

The four major landowner chairmen met with the Minister for Mining, Johnson Tuke, recently to air their grievances.

In a meeting recently held in Port Moresby, the landowners from the Kurumbukari, Basamuk, Basamuk Coastal Pipeline and Maijuri inland pipeline urged Minister Tuke to give them feedback on their overdue royalty payments since the beginning of the project in 2013.

Toby Bare, chairman of Kurumbukari Landowners Association, said the landowners have been waiting patiently for the past years for the Government to hear their plight but nothing has been forthcoming.

His speech, which was presented on his behalf by Goilala MP William Samb during the closure of the Extractive Industry National Emergency Response Challenge 2017, said maintaining a high standard of health and safety at project sites are an integral part of any successful operation.

He said a 12-month analysis by the MRA on the performance of the mining industry on health & safety showed that there is a downward trend on serious injuries and severity frequency rates.

John Tarale from the Komai clan, Jeffery Leo and James Kerene from the Heli clan, speaking on behalf of the 12 main clans of Paiala in Enga Province told Loop PNG that it is now 29 years since Mt Kare was first discovered and up until today nothing has happened.

“Our people are dying and were are the next generation of landowners and we want Minister Byron Chan and Summit and MRA to set aside the court case and to start the gold mining operation,” Tarale said.