PNGEITI conducting roadshows

THE PNG Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative  is conducting roadshows in mining and petroleum  provinces, beginning in New Ireland, according to secretariat head Lucas Alkan,pictured.
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative is an international standard that sets the benchmark for openness around the management of revenues derived from mining and petroleum resources.
Secretariat staff and representative from the PNGEITI Multi-Stakeholder Group comprising government bodies, civil society and industry players began the awareness on Lihir Island on Monday last week.
Alkan said the awareness continued into Simberi, Kavieng and Namatanai district up to Friday.
“They did presentations to financial beneficiaries inclusive of provincial and local level governments, landowner groups and associations,” he said.
“Company officials from Newcrest and St Barbara (Simberi) assisted with logistics support, and attended.
“The roadshow was to educate the general public, especially mining and petroleum project stakeholders including companies, landowners, provincial and local level governments, on what the EITI concept is.
“The roadshow is also to inform beneficial owners of the extractive companies, provincial governments, landowner groups and local level governments that they will be required to report through the PNGEITI Report in 2020.”
He said the expected outcome of the roadshows was to achieve awareness, dialogue and education on the Government’s implementation of the EITI standard in Papua New Guinea, and its progress since 2013. The roadshow was jointly funded and supported by the Mineral Resources Authority, Newcrest Lihir, St Barbara Simberi Mine and the PNGEITI National Secretariat.