LIHIR Gold’s revised integrated benefits package, setting down ambitious goals towards self reliance over a 25-year timeframe, envisages that Lihir companies will bid to own and operate the company’s large geothermal facilities.
Several speakers at the 7th PNG community affairs seminar of the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum yesterday spoke of major new integrated benefits packages that had been drawn up for communities affected by mining.
They made clear that mining projects were becoming a driving force for economic and social development within their communities.
Lihir’s manager for sustainable development Joe Daimol said a newly-drawn up 25-year Lihir sustainable development plan aimed to see local communities progress towards “self-reliance and financial independence”.
He said the five chapters in the report covered capacity building, compensation, infrastructure and development, security and mine closure and long-term investments.
Under the plan, landowner groupings will explore the acquisition and ownership of Lihir’s geothermal energy and housing in the mine township.
Mr Daimol said Lihir companies were expected to bid for these opportunities by 2011.
Under the LSDP, the company and landowners will also explore the idea of “benefit sharing” revenues earned by Lihir Gold under its carbon trading activities.
Ok Tedi’s manager-community relations Leonard Lagisa said yesterday the company’s latest community mine continuation agreement had been drawn up after the holding of more than 500 meetings, about 450 at village level.
He said a compensation and benefits package totaling K1.1 billion had been agreed to for the current period to the proposed end of mining in 2013.
Among the new initiatives was the setting up of an Ok Tedi Fly River development foundation, which will provide the basis for sustainable development once mining ceases.
It was also agreed Ok Tedi would end the practice of paying compensation into clan accounts, which often gives rise to much dissension, and will instead have a cash component paid directly into family accounts.
About 10% of the funding will be targeted to projects and programmes that benefit women and children.