Delay in revised agreement for Hidden Valley mine frustrates landowner group

DELAY in endorsing a revised memorandum of agreement (MoA) for the Hidden Valley mine in Bulolo, Morobe, since Oct 24, 2014, is frustrating Nakuwi Landowners’ Association president Rex Mauri.
Mauri said parties to the revised MoA in 2014 were Morobe Consolidated Goldfields Ltd, Nakuwi, impacted LLGs, Bulolo district, the Morobe government and the state.
The state solicitor as the owner of the document, coordinated by Mineral Resources Authority, initialised the document and submitted to the National Executive Council (NEC) for endorsement.
Mauri said Harmony Gold was unable to provide scholarships and training to enhance local labour skills, business opportunities and participation of Bulolo entrepreneurs and the Morobe and national governments.
“The Government failed to comply in endorsing the revised MoA of 2014 and the delay gives a leeway for Harmony Gold to dictate all mining operations in Hidden Valley,” he said. “I cannot sit and wait, this is my land. It doesn’t cost me anything to shut the mine. I have filed Section 5 notice to sue the State for failing to comply with due procedures.”
According to MRA, a submission was provided to Mining Minister Johnson Tuke to seek NEC’s approval of the revised MoA, It is yet to be tabled before NEC.
Attempts to obtain comment from Tuke were unsuccessful.
The first MoA signed in Oct 2005 agreed to a review after three years of production when first gold bar was poured in 2009.