Philip Samar

​Preps underway for Kainantu MoA review

Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) Managing Director, Philip Samar, said a series of consultations will take place before the actual review process begins.

Currently, MRA is brokering resolutions to an eight-point petition that the Bilimoia Interim Landowner Association (BLA), which represents landowners from the mine site, want addressed.

MRA stepped in to address the petition following the arson attack on mining equipment by locals last week, forcing mine operator K92 Mining Inc to temporarily shut down production.

​Mine attack threatens investor confidence: MRA

In a media conference yesterday, Samar said the attack on the mine developer K92 Mining Inc, which was a new company to PNG and who invested millions of kina to revive the mine, had serious implications.

He said the company spent the last two years carrying out maintenance at the mine site and only began selling in July, of which the true benefits were yet to be seen when the attack occurred.

“It’s really discouraging,” said Samar.

“There will be people (investors) watching and wondering what’s going to happen next.”

It’s about neighbours helping neighbours

MRA Managing Director, Philip Samar said giving a little hand to assist the villagers was the right thing to do, given that the calamity was unexpected and the magnitude of damage done to properties was considerable.

“There is not much these villagers can do but hope for external help. That is why we have stepped in to help. For us, it’s about neighbours helping neighbours.”

MRA calls for improvement in revised mining agreements

MRA Managing Director Philip Samar made this call when presenting six revised MoAs to the Mining Minister Byron Chan on Monday.

The revised MoAs are for Hidden Valley, Tolukuma, Ok Tedi, Simberi and Sinivit.

The only new mining project MoA is for Woodlark.

Samar said that there is definitely a need to improve on how these MOAs are administered.

“The negotiations, as difficult and challenging as they might be, is actually the easy part.