Kokopo review meet adjourned

 The Porgera mine project memorandum of agreement review meeting between parties in Kokopo this week has been adjourned after successfully discussing all benefits except one issue. 

The issue is the inclusion of the operator of Porgera Mine – Barrick PNG Ltd – as a party to the MoA. The company had been an observer since the start of the MoA discussions two years ago. 

The Porgera Landowners Association (PLA) and Enga provincial government had proposed that the company be a party to the agreement to formalise the company’s participation in terms of implementing MoA obligations.

Association leader Maso Mangape said the developer had a major obligation to honour in the MoA and therefore it was necessary for company to be a party.

However, Barrick did not agree to be a party because a review of a MoA could not introduce any new parties, without fundamentals affecting obligations under the MoA and under new agreements.

The review meeting could not come to a compromise regarding this issue which forced the adjournment of the meeting. 

Chairman of the meeting Shadrach Himata  said the meeting was successful where all issues and benefits were amicably discussed and agreed on.