Illegal mining, a worry

By PETER ESILA
PORGERA Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Nickson Pakea says illegal miners are coming into the gold mine posing risks.
“The Porgera economy is gradually picking up, and cash-flow in the district is higher than expected,” he said.
“Cash flow just picked up recently when the New Porgera Ltd paid the royalties and occupation fees.
“High cash flow is also a concern to us the Porgera business community as illegal miners are also flooding into the Porgera mine open pit areas, on the same day of the mine production commissioning by Prime Minister James Marape and government officials.
“Even today, the illegal activities including stealing of company property is higher than expected and a great challenge we need to address.”
He said for the next 20 years, businesses wanted public-private partnership programmes.
“Most of the problems are caused by outside people and we want a mechanism be in placed so that foreigners are assessed and processed so they can adapt to the society to live in. If not, they don’t deserve to be in Porgera.
He said natural disasters were also a concern.
“Nature has completely cut off parts of the Highlands Highway. The Lakolam road is partly closed as tankers and semi-trailer trucks cannot pass through to Porgera except the light vehicles.”