Alluvial miners

Small Scale Mining branch manager, Sydor Utaeo, reminded the miners of this following a recent death at Koranga Mining area.

Utaeo said miners’ failure to observe mining safety laws, even in small scale mining operations, can lead to such tragedy.

He stressed that the Mining Safety Act 1977 applies to all mining operations in the country, including Wau.

This was highlighted following a discussion with four tenement holders of Wau, Bulolo and Watut River in Bulolo District.

Governor Saonu said MPG has now engaged the services of Albatross Integrated Limited, who have extensive years of working with alluvial miners and other mining projects of New Ireland Province.

The company will be the coordinating body to ensure the alluvial miners are empowered.

“These are new interventions undertaken by MPG and to drive the agenda of mining in Morobe,” Governor Saonu stated.

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.