Association seeks new mine lease

THE Nakuwi Landowner Association of the Hidden Valley gold mine in Bulolo district, Morobe, will request for fresh negotiations for a special mining lease (SML).
The association’s request comes after it learnt that the seven-year mine life has been extended to more than 20 years.
The association, representing Watut and Biangai locals, will put in a proposal for a new negotiation during the review of the Hidden Valley memorandum of agreement later this year.
Association president Rex Mauri yesterday said the life of the mine had been extended and it was proper for the landowners to negotiate with the government for a special mining lease.
Mauri said the MoA signed between the developer, Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV), the government and the landowners was based on a seven-year life of the project.
He is concerned that the MoA was four years old and the mine life was seven years under the mining lease granted by the government and that had to be extended by an SML.
Mauri said the SML would level the status of Hidden Valley with Porgera, Lihir and Ok Tedi mining, giving greater benefits to the landowners, developer and other stakeholders.
He said when the SML was granted, there would be adequate funds to build up Wau town, establish a housing programme, rehabilitate roads and the fly-in-fly-out arrangement would be phased out.
Mauri said other impact projects and business benefits local landowners had missed out in the past five years would fall in place once the SML was granted and would help resolve issues bombarding MMJV and the landowners.
The SML would address all the issues and bring back confidence for the good of the mine and the surrounding communities.
Meanwhile, MMJV said all relevant issues will be discussed in the Hidden Valley MoA Review later in the year.