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Illegal mining still continuing
By PETER PIA
ILLEGAL mining is still going on at the Porgera mine despite the dangers
posed to those involved, leaders from the Enga province were told.
Deputy Prime Minister Don Polye and Inter-Government Relations Minister
Sam Abal were told this by Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) officials and
security personnel during a visit to the mine and its surroundings last
week.
The two ministers were told of how illegal miners risk climbing steep
slopes surrounding the open pit mine searching for gold.
Mr Polye was surprised to learn that illegal mining was still going on
everyday.
PJV Barrick illegal miners’ project and social community affairs manager
Steve Ginpel said illegal mining was an ongoing activity even though
several illegal miners had been shot dead by security personnel in the
past years.
Mr Ginpel said illegal miners were creating problems for themselves, and
putting their own lives at risk.
A security guard told The National that illegal miners normally came in
big numbers, climbing down the 100m steep slope to look for gold in the
pile.
He said illegal miners had no fear getting shot be security guards,
getting killed by falling rocks or even fall to their death over the
steep slopes.
He said illegal miners normally hide in the tunnels, which were dug by
the company, and came out at night with torches to search for gold.
Messrs Polye and Abal were told that most of the illegal miners came
from Laiagam, Kandep and Tari.
They were also told that the Porgera landowners hardly take part in this
activity.
 
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