A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between Porgera mine operator Barrick (Niugini) Limited and the Wabag District Development Authority (WDDA).
BNL Country Director, Dr Ila Temu, and Wabag Member of Parliament and State Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Dr Tom Lino, signed the MOU in Port Moresby on October 15th, 2019.
Under the MOU, BNL will provide fuel assistance to the Authority currently undertaking a project to upgrade and properly establish the Wabag-Maramuni Road as well as constructing and expanding other important roads in the district.
BNL has agreed under the MOU to provide fuel for the next six months on roadworks machinery being used to construct and upgrade the roads.
Dr Temu pointed out the importance of infrastructure such as roads and bridges, adding that roads were critical for service delivery and transportation for people in the districts and the country as a whole.
He said the fuel support was in recognition of the progress that the WDDA has made under the leadership of the Wabag MP.
Dr Lino was grateful for the fuel assistance and said the support will greatly assist the WDDA to complete roadworks on the remaining roads in Wabag District.
He said the Wabag-Maramuni Road was a very important infrastructure that linked the isolated people of Maramuni to the Enga provincial capital of Wabag.
He said currently the WDDA was constructing five new roads and has already completed two new ones, also within the district.
(Dr Temu, left, and Dr Lino, right, with the MOU. They are being assisted by BNL lawyer Collin Mark)