Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture (WGJV)

WGJV signs Framework agreement with State

The signing was attended to by the Governor General, the Prime Minister and key members of his cabinet, as well as the Governor of Morobe Province.

The MoU represents a substantial step forward in progressing and signing a Mining Development Contract for Wafi-Golpu and confirms the parties’ intent to proceed with the project, subject to finalising the permitting process and approvals of both the Newcrest and Harmony Boards.

The MoU sets out key terms to be included in the Mining Development Contract, which is a prerequisite for a Special Mining Lease (SML), including:

Governor clears stance on Wafi-Golpu permit

Governor Ginson Saonu said whilst he did not sign, he supported the Conservation & Environment Protection Authority, which paved the way for the issuance of an environment permit to Wafi-Golpu.

In a press conference with Lae media, Morobe Governor Saonu stressed on the phrase ‘in principle’, saying he agreed to the signing of the environmental agreement as a sign of good faith to the developer.

Wafi-Golpu opens information centre

Located on the third floor of the Papindo shopping centre, the new office aims to debunk myths and misinformation pertaining to deep-sea tailings placement by providing facts from their studies.

The Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture’s public information centre has been open since the beginning of this year.

In the past few weeks, a large number of people have accessed the information area, watched deep-sea tailings placement awareness videos and engaged in question-and-answer sessions with the staff there.

Wafi-Golpu Injunction lifted

This follows the dismissal of a judicial review proceeding between the Governor for Morobe Province and the PNG Government in relation to the Wafi-Golpu Project Memorandum of Understanding, by the National Court in Lae on February 11th.

According to a statement by Newcrest Mining, Mining Minister, Johnston Tuke, advised the WGJV partners that the State has withdrawn its support for the MOU, and instructed lawyers to take steps to set aside the stay order and terminate the judicial review proceeding.

Wafi-Golpu MOU to be eliminated

Prime Minister James Marape revealed this at the Back to Business Breakfast event in Port Moresby.

The MOU signed in December 2018 established the framework for the parties to progress the permitting of the Wafi-Golpu Project ‘as quickly as practicable’ with a view to achieving a Special Mining Lease by 30 June 2019.

However, the Morobe Provincial Government rejected the move, taking the matter to court and stalling the Wafi-Holpu Mine from maturing.

Prime Minister Marape revealed to the business community that the MoU would be eliminated.

30-year life span estimated for Wafi-Golpu

Executive project director of the Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture, Bryan Bailie, said this during the PNG Chamber of Mining and Petroleum Conference in Sydney early this month.

According to Business Advantage PNG, Bailie says the project could be ‘multi-generational’ and has the potential to be a ‘long duration sustainable mining operation’ that could last ‘28 to 35 years or more’.

If developed, the mine will be the largest underground mine in PNG and the first green field mine development since the Hidden Valley mine commenced in 2009.