Landowners’ association calls for extension of special mining lease

THE Porgera Landowners Association (Ploa) has reaffirmed its support for the extension of the special mining lease (SML) for the Porgera gold mine.
Ploa, in a statement, noted that they also wanted Barrick Niugini Ltd to remain as the mine’s operator.
“The landowners have done so at the mining warden hearing on April 2, 2019, expressing this support and was witnessed by the chief mining warden of PNG, and again in our presentations and letters addressed to various authorities, including the Prime Minister via the state negotiating team (SNT),” the statement said. The association appealed to the Government not to listen to any other landowners apart from Ploa.
“Our position is very clear – the mandated spokesgroup for the Porgera SML landowning 10,000 population agreed that Porgera joint venture mine lease must be renewed and extended with a new benefit sharing agreement and Government must come to Porgera and meet us and listen to us,” the statement said.
“These individuals and groups roaming the streets of Port Moresby aren’t genuine landowners.
“They do not live in Porgera.”
According to the statement, Ploa represented 24 land negotiating committee, signatories to the mine agreement and (LNC) agents representing the landowners in the 24 sub clans from the seven major clans: Tieni, Tuanda, Waiwa, Angalaini, Mamai, Pulumani and Anga.