Mineral Resources Authority (MRA)

MRA Acting Managing Director, Jerry Garry, who returned from the project site on Saturday January 14, after a two-day inspection of the houses and facilities, said he was impressed with the quality of the houses that were being constructed by the developer of the project GeoPacific Resources Limited.

He adds that they had set a new benchmark for the rest of the mining industry to follow.

Live data will include numbers showing production value, export value, and related information basically livestreamed from a data source of respective mine operators. 

Ok Tedi Mine will be fist to streamline live data to the MRA website for public access after engineers have finalized work. Others will follow soon after.

MRA Managing Director Jerry Garry visited Simberi mine for the very first-time last week. He said he was impressed with the use of geotagging in the monitoring of the DSTP line and the In-Vehicle Monitoring System (IVMS) which records operator activity in the equipment.

Mr Garry said the improvements were indicative of the mine moving beyond compliance requirements to values-based commitments as it transitions from oxide mining to sulphides.

The SFRP, supported by the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership aims to provide safe and reliable access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.

The surveys determine the best locations for boreholes to access groundwater by assessing water quality, quantity and speed of storage, as well as proximity to the communities. Boreholes are groundwater sources and are more reliable during dry seasons.

MRA Geological Survey Division’s Executive Manager, Nathan Mosusu said he was pleased to work with Australia to improve the lives of rural communities.

Managing Director of MRA, Jerry Garry raised this during his presentation at the Community Affairs and Media Workshop this week.

He said: “When the State gives a mining lease or special mining lease, we are giving that license holder the rights to mine. But the people who own the land, hold the social license. So how do we maintain that social license and is it a responsibility that should be co-shared by every stakeholder?

The Project aims to identify the extent to which mercury is used in the industry and how it is used and by whom,  in a bid to mitigate health risks.

On March 6^th, the Reducing Mercury Use in Papua New Guinea’s Alluvial and Small-Scale Gold Mining Sector’ Project was launched in Port Moresby, following a workshop with key stakeholders and project partners.

The Alluvial Mining industry is one of the largest small to medium enterprise sectors in PNG that engages thousands of rural small scale miners.

This follows concerns raised by landowners that the Government must consult with them fully before making a decision on the Porgera mine lease extension after the mine licence expired in August last year.

Garry addressed the landowners in Porgera on Friday 10 January when the PLOA presented a petition intended for the Prime Minister, to the Minister for Mining, Johnson Tuke, supporting SML extension and the existing operator of the Porgera mine and calling on Government to renew the mine licence without delay.

The Plant has closed down its processing operations on October 21^st following the order.

The Basamuk Processing Plant was ordered to cease operations because it has failed to adequately rectify defects identified and recommended for rectification during the investigations by the Mineral Resources Authority’s mine inspectorate into the slurry overflow incident. This resulted in the spillage of slurry into the sea on August 24^th.

The defects identified during the investigations, among others, were as follows:

Kaumu, who is at present the Mineral Resources Authority’s (MRA) Geological Database Specialist, took up the program Master of Science in GIS between 2017 and 2018. Her study focused on Geoinformatics. The study opportunity was possible through the Chevening Scholarship Awards, which is the UK government’s global scholarship program. It is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations.

Hailing from Gumine District in Chimbu Province, Garry returns to PNG to take up the post after several years working in some of the most challenging countries in the world.

A function was held yesterday to welcome Garry.

The MRA hosted a function in Port Moresby to welcome Jerry Garry as the new MD for the MRA.

Present were Mining Minister, Johnston Tuke, Commerce and Industry Minister, Wera Mori, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, William Samb, as well as Secretary for Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management (DMPGM), Harry Kore.