Basil condemns forced suspension of work at Wafi-Golpu mine

MINISTER for Communications, Information Technology and Energy Sam Basil has condemned the forced suspension of work at the multi-billion kina Wafi-Golpu project on Friday by a group claiming to be “landowner executives”.
He told a press conference attended by Yanta chairman Genesis Siliwana, Hengambu chairman Paul Yanam, Morobe government chairman of mines and Mumeng local level government president Okam Paton and Bulolo administrator Tae Guambelek: “The threats and subsequent shutdown forced by the so-called Wafi-Golpu Landowners Association is illegal and uncalled for.
“John Nema and Holmes Kissing are not signatories to the memorandum of agreement (MOA).
“If they had any legitimate issues, they should be talking to the signatories of the MoA as part of the permitting process instead of this illegal shutdown action.”
Basil said the signatories of the MoA included the State, the Morobe government, Bulolo district’s Mumeng LLG, the elected Yanta and Hengambu landowners executives, the Huon Gulf district’s Wampar LLG and the elected Babuaf landowners executives.
He said the legitimate landowner executives of Yanta, Hengambu and Babuaf knew what was required of them in the permitting process and various authorities they had to interact with.
“They are aware that within the special mining lease (SML) are the ore body landowners and the processing plant site landowners in Bulolo and Huon Gulf,” Basil said.
“The landowners of Yanta and Hengambu as well as Babuaf are aware that the ore body is valueless unless it is extracted, processed, shipped and sold.
“Legitimate concerns need to be brought and addressed in the established legal processes.”