Barrick has every opportunity to discuss intention: Marape

By DALE LUMA
BARRICK Niugini Ltd (BNL) will have every opportunity to discuss its intention on Porgera through the Kumul Mineral Holdings Ltd (KMHL) special mining lease, Prime Minister James Marape says.
But he said consultations must be done with landowners and the Enga government for their fair share of equity.
He told Parliament yesterday that discussions on the environmental footprint of the project areas in terms of the discharge from the mine would also be discussed.
He said there were still legacy issues in Porgera and the KMHL lease would consider landowners in the mining lease area, the people in the surrounding mine-affected areas and the water system flowing down to the Fly River in Western.
“We have given them (BNL) every opportunity to talk to us (on) what is their residual interest in the matter,” Marape said.
He said there were legacy issues in Porgera.
“Just like Hides gas which is harvested from the mountains where people are,” he said.
“Proper resettlement has not taken place up there.
“People are still living in and out of the mine pit area. We have been talking about in the past 30 years.”
He said the Government had not completely shut out BNL.