Porgera gold mine

Prime Minister, James Marape, said this recently in response to the massive drop in oil prices.

The drop-in oil will affect revenue sales from oil and LNG, major export commodities for PNG.

Prime Minister James Marape said they will be in a better place in June to see by how much PNG’s revenue has gone off track.

In the meantime, the Government will implement its current budget plan.

“The Government’s decision was tantamount to nationalisation without due process and in violation of the Government’s legal obligations to BNL,” said the operator in a statement.

BNL said it remained willing to discuss the issue with Prime Minister James Marape and his Government in the hope of averting what it described as a catastrophic situation for the communities at Porgera and in Enga, and for the country as a whole.

Prime Minister James Marape made the announcement following a National Executive Council decision based on the recommendation of the Mining Advisory Council.

The Prime Minister said in light of long standing environmental and resettlement issues, the Special Mining Lease will not be renewed.

“The Mining Advisory Committee is an independent committee under the Mining Act and they have thoroughly and carefully gone through the application and came up with the recommendation to reject the application for extension,” said Marape.

Kramer said he was informed of the impending raid during his last visit to Porgera and strongly advised against it given the lack of protective gear and training.

He said when he learnt of the death of the police officer he was upset.

Minister Kramer was responding to questions by NCD Governor, Powes Parkop, on the proliferation of guns in tribal communities in rural PNG.

On Tuesday, the Mineral Resources Authority outlined this among other updates relating to the extension application and negotiations to continue operating the joint-venture project in Enga Province.

The Porgera Gold Mine Special Mining Lease 1(P) and 14 supporting tenements expired on 16^th August 2019, but is subject to the continuation in force of those tenements until the determination of the extension application.

Yokoloma is a community within the Special Mining Lease (SML) of the Porgera Gold Mine.

On 26 February, one of the biggest clan within the SML area, Mamai Clan, made up of people basically from Yokolama, Alipis and Panadaka, took ownership to denounce publicly the sale and consumption of alcohol, marijuana and illegal drugs. They also said no to engaging in unacceptable social activities such as tribal warfare or violence, carrying around offensive weapons in public and stealing and illegal mining within the clan areas.

But to ensure the mine achieves this result, the challenge is now on the management and staff and the local community to work together and to ensure that benefits continue to flow to all stakeholders.

The new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Barrick Gold Corporation, Mark Bristow, made these comments during a ‘question and answer’ (Q&A) session with employees recently at the Porgera Gold Mine.

The Justice Foundation for Porgera is campaigning against the renewal of the mine’s licence, claiming obvious breaches in agreement by Porgera Joint Venture.

The Justice Foundation for Porgera labeled local children “a generation without education”.

The Foundation said over the years, the mine had done catastrophic damages to the people and the environment, but the company and the government had failed to address those issues.

It was claimed that while there are over 4,000 children in the Special Mining Lease area, none of them go to school.

Chairman of the Justice Foundation for Porgera, Jonathan Paraia, announced the action taken on behalf of the landowners on November 30^th.

On Friday November 30^th, Paraia, backed by supporters and a legal representative, announced the lawsuit against the state.

“This is a statement on behalf of the landowners of the special mining lease of Pogera in the Enga Province of PNG. The people and landowners of Porgera are united. The chief of the Porgerans now speak in one voice.

The tests in HEF Level Three and Electrical Level Two were conducted from 13 to 19 November, 2017, administered by William Tiru from NATTB’s quality assurance and accreditation office under the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations.

“We at NATTB work in partnership with Porgera Joint Venture to recognise and certify the skilled workforce,” Tiru said.