Landowners back mine’s reopening

LEADERS of landowner groups in the Porgera mine area in Enga who attended a consultative meeting recently have supported the re-opening of the mine, according to the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA).
Managing director Jerry Garry said the re-opening was contingent on agreements reached between the Kumul Minerals Holdings Ltd (KMHL), the Government and Barrick Niugini Ltd (BNL).
At the conclusion of either the shareholders agreement or commencement agreement, the KMHL must apply for the registration of the dealing and legal transfer of interests in SML11 to the BNL and a new project company.
“The transfer or dealings will be deliberated by the mining advisory council and authorised by the mining minister to enable the new project company and its shareholders to operate the mine,” Gerry said.
“Concurrent with the commercial negotiations, statutory requirements for the grant of special mining lease under the Mining Act 1992 deferred by the Mining (Amendment) Act 2020 must be fulfilled to re-open the mine.”
He said the MRA had identified minimum requirements and a team would be on the ground to ensure consents and other necessary agreements were met prior to the re-opening.
“Despite informal acceptance of submission by several stakeholders, everyone will be formally called upon when the minimum requirements are satisfactorily met through the due processes,” he said.
“We are aware of the differences amongst landowners over leadership issues but their consent and support to the government process is required in the best interest of the project and the nation at large in our endeavour to re-open the mine expeditiously at the heights of securing a much better deal for landowners, local level government, provincial government and the State.”