Call for mining sector regulation

THE Morobe Small-Scale Miners Association plans to have the alluvial mining sector properly regulated by the Government through a proper policy framework and intervention programme, an official says.
Association president Banzi Zimanga said there was huge potential in the sector.
“We want Government intervention so that we can see more small-scale mining conducting their activities on a big scale,” he said.
“Small-scale alluvial mining is a sleeping giant which a majority of rural people are involved in to sustain themselves.”
Zimanga believed that if properly regulated by the Government, there will improvements in production, business activities, job creation, delivery of basic services and infrastructure.
He said small-scale mining was the main source of income for the people in Bulolo.
“Ten years ago, alluvial mining records from the Bank of PNG (BPNG) showed a significant increase in the amount of money pumped into the economy – from K100mil a year to over K600mil last year,” he said.
“And 70 per cent of the money comes directly from the gold production by hardworking alluvial miners in Bulolo.”