Porgera reopening

In June, the Prime Minister had stated that the mine would be reopened by PNG’s 46^th Anniversary as a gift to PNG.

 In a statement released this week, Mr Namah said the PM is making a laughing stock of the country.

“When National Day dawned last Thursday, September 16th, the Prime Minister had the audacity to express his disappointment to the nation that he had come up empty handed, and set yet another deadline at “two weeks’ time”.

The mine had closed after the State refused to renew the mining lease held by Barrick Niugini Limited (BNL).

PM Marape said after negotiating with BNL, there was a breakthrough, with Papua New Guinea having a “far superior deal” than in the first 31 years of operation, from 1989 to 2020.

“I’m announcing to our country that within the principles of my Government, which includes getting more from our natural resources, we are in a better position now to sign an agreement with Barrick for what will be a new Porgera,” the Prime Minister said.