Hela wants to be at the table during Porgera licence talks

HELA, which has been supplying electricity to the Porgera mine for more than 27 years, hopes to be included in talks on the renewal of the mining licence.
Governor Philip Undialu said the Hides power station had been supplying free electricity to the mine and the landowners since 1988.
He said people in Hela themselves had no access to electricity.
“The actual power supply started in 1992.”
For close to three decades we have supplied the mine and the people with electricity and we want to be a part of the discussion for the renewal of the mining license,” he said.
“The Porgera Joint Venture and the provincial government must consider the fact that we have been significantly contributing to the success of the mine by supplying electricity to them in the past 27 years.”
Undialu said they must be included in the discussions so that a proper agreement could be reached to benefit the people of Hides.
“The sad thing is that the people of Hides have been without any power supply for the last 27 years while electricity from their area is sent to Porgera.
“I’m taking back what belongs to my people. A proper dialogue must be done to ensure that Hela people are not ripped off again.”