Inguba says Tolukuma is ‘under control’

 THE Tolukuma gold mine in the Central hinterland is under control and all operations have been stabilised.

Newly-appointed chief executive officer of Tolukuma Gold Mine Ltd (TGM) Sam Inguba said: “Petromin is the holding company and maintains its 100% ownership of its subsidiary company TGM as opposed to recent misleading media reports based on misconstrued myth that Petromin has been disbanded and has no authority over TGM.

“I must assure all stakeholders, including business partners, service providers, the mine impacted communities and TGM employees that Petromin is committed to the mine and has already taken measures to address the grievances raised by the employees and the MP for Goilala Daniel Mona.

“The truth is that Petromin still legally exist and its business as usual. This message has been given to TGM staff.”

Inguba said some of the new measures employed to address the mine’s operational issues included:

• Appointment of new TGM board headed by Ian Godard with Jerry Wemin and Richard Tengdui as directors;
• Creation of a new CEO position;
• Recruiting of new mines manager;
• Cost-cutting measures;
• Revitalisation of aging equipment and facilities; and
• Validating the mines resources.

He urged stakeholders, including the local MP, and landowners to support his management team and not to do anything that would create uncertainty in the community.

Inguba reiterated that in the revised memorandum of agreement last October, all stakeholders including the Woitape local level government, Goilala MP Daniel Mona, Yulai landowners association, Central provincial government, Mineral Resource Authority and other relevant line agencies agreed that Petromin would pay the 10% equity. 

He added that since taking over the mine in 2008, Petromin has continued to discharge its corporate social responsibility programme by assisting the mine’s impacted communities as well as other Goilala communities in educational and community health services, community policing, water and sanitation and local business spin-off activities.

Inguba said that police presence at the mine site was made through a formal request by the management as part of its normal security measures to protect and safeguard TGM’s properties, assets and employees.

He urged stakeholders, including the local MP, and landowners to support his management team and not to do anything that would create uncertainty in the community.