Developers, government resume talks

Business

THE Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture is to resume talks with the Government on the development of the gold project in Morobe, according to Newcrest Mining Ltd.
Newcrest owns 50 per cent of the project, while Harmony Gold Mining Ltd owns the other half.
The company issued the statement after concerns raised on the development and progress of the project.
It said talks on the project between the Government and the Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture (WGJV) was delayed by unresolved legal proceedings between the Government and the Morobe government regarding the internal distribution of local economic interests in the project.
“The PNG Government continues to signal its support for the project and the WGJV is well-placed to resume discussions, given the constructive progress already made on the various agreements required for completion of the permitting process and the granting of a special mining lease.”
Meanwhile, according to information from WGJV, the focus is on the massive Golpu porphyry, the most advanced and economically significant of the deposits.
Pre-feasibility and feasibility studies were completed in 2016 and supported the viability of construction and operation of a long life underground copper-gold mine.