Alluvial mining reserved

Business

ALLUVIAL mining, the process of extracting gold from waterways, is a reserved national activity with the Alluvial Mining Policy banning foreigners from taking part and exporting of alluvial gold.
Mining Minister Sir Ano Pala said this in Parliament yesterday when responding to a series of questions raised by Wau-Waria MP Marsh Narawec on issues regarding exploration and mining licensing in Wau, Bulolo and Mt Kaindi areas.
“One of the key factors in the Alluvial Mining Policy (AMP), is alluvial mining is now a reserved activity for locals only. Foreigners are banned from conducting any form of alluvial mining in the country. Only Papua New Guineans are able to conduct alluvial mining and exporting alluvial gold,” he said.
Sir Ano said in relation to the status of the AMP, the policy was introduced in the last Parliament and launched during the 2021 Alluvial Mining Conference in Lae.
The Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management (DMPGM) had been doing awareness around the country.
“In response to the review of the existing licence covering the areas of Mt Kaindi, Wau-Waria and Bulolo districts, the current act provides sufficiently for coexistence of the alluvial mining licenses and exploration licences. Alluvial mining licences can exist within an exploration licence and vice versa,” Sir Ano said.
“Unless the questions and claims can be proven of abuse, the questions of grants and complaints are strictly monitored by Mineral Resources Authority (MRA), renewal of licences follows strict compliance checks by MRA and is cross-checked by relevant authorities before recommendations are made to the minister.
“MRA is one of the organisations where the system works well and I’m comfortable with what they are doing and the advice they give me.”