Harmony to resume drilling in Wau

HARMONY Gold in Bulolo, Morobe, has announced that it will resume a drilling programme at its Kerimenge prospect EL 497 in Wau next year.
The announcement was made during a reconciliation ceremony with the Kwembu villagers of the Biangai tribe after Harmony left the site eight years ago.
Harmony exploration community affairs manager Anthony Naguwean said exploration work would resume after the reconciliation with the people.
Naguwean said the company agreed to resume drilling and move to the advanced stage of exploration of Greenfield to Brownfield.
“We are optimistic of a possible discovery leading to developing a mine at EL 497 at Kerimenge in the near future,” Naguwean said.
He apologised for ceasing operations without a formal notice in 2013, saying it was a decision by the then company executives.
A team comprising casual workers and field supervisors will track into the Kerimenge site in preparation for geologists to conduct low key soil sampling work in preparation for drilling next month.
“Before the drilling programme, the company will have a community engagement agreement in place. That means a working committee will be established to monitor work progress and be responsible for casual employment and local issues.”
Naguwean said if Harmony Gold developed a mine, then a separate memorandum of agreement would be signed to have the project 100 percent owned by the Kwembu people.