Firm aims to secure leases for landowners

THE Morobe government’s newly established company, Morobe Alluvial Mining Ltd’s (MAML) aim is to help secure mining leases for landowners who wish to mine their land and also those who wish to apply to mine on State land, an official says.
MAML chief executive officer Brigitta Pondros explained that the company’s part is to liaise with Mineral Resources Authority (MRA), do the mapping on the land of interest, help the interested parties apply for mining leases, call for MRA to conduct mining warden hearings and if the application is approved, issue mining lease titles to successful applicants.
Pondros said after the approval of a mining lease, the company would move in with equipment and machinery to begin work.
Gains from mining would be shared by the lease holder or holders, the company and Morobe provincial government.
She said the first small scale miner to affiliate with MAML was Sifuro’s mining lease 283 which was ready to go into production and an excavator and tromwel (shaker) would be delivered to the lease soon.
The others are Kenneth Merik ML 244 at Erowa Creek, Watut local level government (LLG) in Upper Watut; Kenny Kenges, MLs 345, 346 and 349 at Maus Kaindi within the Wau-Bulolo Urban LLG; and, Edward Homba, ML 529 at Widipos, Ward 19 in Mumeng LLG.
Pondros said the company’s community affairs division was carrying out awareness so that landowners and existing small-scale miners were aware of the company.
“In the last couple of months many interested small scale miners, both current and intended, plus landowner groups from Bulolo, Mumeng and Wau areas have fronted up at the company’s camp sites at Bulolo and Wau and showed their interest and supported the company’s mission.”