Business community asks PM for review

THE Government’s decision not to renew the special mining lease for Barrick Niugini Ltd to operate the Porgera gold mine has left businesses in Porgera uncertain of the future, a business representative says.
Porgera chamber of commerce and industry president Nixon Pakea said while they respected the Government’s decision, it was made without considering the businesses and community in the impact area.
Pakea said the Government failed to consider the factors behind the “detrimental” operation of Barrick, Porgera Joint Venture in Porgera.
He urged Prime Minister James Marape to review the decision.
“The Porgera mine should be treated (separately from) Ok Tedi or Tolukuma,” he said.
“The 70,000 population depend on the Porgera mine.
“(Only a) minority oppose the operation of mine.
“The ultimate closure of the mine operation is not going to go down well with the people.
“More than 15,000 people, including the contractors will be out of jobs.
“That is adding to the number of people out of jobs from the Covid-19.”
He urged Marape to send his negotiating team to Porgera to get “firsthand information”.