Alluvial mines reserved for locals to explore, says Tuke

COMPANIES with exploration licence do not have the right to stop landowners from doing alluvial mining in areas listed under their exploration licence, Mining Minster Johnson Tuke says.
He said under the Constitution, a company could obtain an exploration licence but alluvial mining was confined and reserved for landowners.
Tuke was responding to East Sepik Governor Allan Bird’s questions relating to landowner groups in Maprik being denied access by a foreign company to do alluvial mining on their own land.
Bird said even though the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) issued a number of alluvial mining licences to landowner groups for the many alluvial prospects there, issues were still faced by those operating under those licences.
He said a foreigner was killed three months ago in his province as a result of issues relating to the MRA alluvial mining licences.
“MRA and other Government departments and agencies do not consult us before allowing foreign companies to operate in our province,” he said.
Bird said a foreigner operating in Maprik had restricted local landowners from obtaining alluvial mining licences to operate on their own land. “What happens to the rights of landowners when MRA issues exploration licences to foreign companies to operate on their land?” Bird asked.
Tuke said even though alluvial mining was reserved for landowners, MRA, through its mining advisory council, had the power to determine who was capable of conducting mining activities.
Northern Governor Gary Juffa also raised a concern about MRA conducting warden hearings in the absence of landowners.
“Landowners need to be properly advised about the time and venue of these warden hearings to avoid inconveniences,” he said.
Tuke said the issue was a result of poor communication between MRA, provinces and landowners.