Firm willing to engage in ‘good faith’ with State
BARRICK (Niugini) Limited says it is willing to engage in “good-faith” negotiations with the Government which can lead to the re-opening of the Porgera gold-copper mine.
“BNL remains willing to engage in good faith negotiations to chart a way forward that can result in a win-win for all stakeholders and lead to the re-opening of the Porgera mine,” a statement from the company said.
But it warned that any such talks “cannot be based on an abrogation of BNL’s legal rights and interests”.
It said that it was challenging in court the decision by the Government to grant Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited (KMHL) a lease which covers the Porgera mine.
It said it had lodged an application for a judicial review at the National Court.
The company is arguing that the special mining lease “purportedly granted to KMHL is asserted to cover areas of land which are already the subject of valid BNL tenements”.
“As such, the area was not available for grant at the time the Government purported to award KMHL an SML covering that land,” the statement said.
It also claimed that the SML application by KMHL was reportedly lodged on July 27 July and “purportedly granted on Aug 25”.
“These short timeframes raise serious questions as to how regulatory authorities, notably the Mineral Resources Authority were able to responsibly and properly assess the KMHL application,” the statement said.
4 comments
Such in “good-faith” negotiations with the Government has to be done for the last donkey 30 yaers or so when this socalled BNL were extracting our World Class Giant Porgera mining,now they cry foul over a spill milk again when our good government under the stewardship of James Marape taking Back the mine to operate.Please James Marape never listen to them,you’ve started the good work so go ahead and finishes with the other mining as well,now after 45 years of independence its time to relay on our own resources rather than borrowing too much from other countries and letting our own people lives in poverty and not long we all will becomes slaves to the foreigners in our own mother’s land…well done,Prime Minister all PNGians are supporting your government..
Apart from the existing buildings, plants and facilities on the mine lease and ancillary leases at Porgera, BNL does not have any legal interest or rights over the land and the mineral resources. BNL has been invited by State through KMHL to negotiate for the equity participation and that invitation is still open to date. BNL has no legal rights and interests prerogative to invite the PNG Govt to negotiate for win-win, whatever. Legally BNL is now a foreigner in PNG since the SML11 term expired in August 2019. The minerals and the land (tenements) are 100% owned by the State and the KMHL is 100% SML11 and the ancillary leases license holder. Options available for BNL are only two; whether to accept the invitation by the State through KMHL and negotiate for equity participation and resume the mine operation as JV or sell the depreciated facilities and plants/equipment at Porgera and leave the shores of PNG, simple as just that.
They should be implementing their mine closure plan.
If they don’t then they should forfeit any equipment etc
Barrick Nuigini Limited Should leave the country as it has failed totally in its obligations, responsibilities, both corporate and national towards the Government of Papua New Guinea and its people.
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