Landowners have no standing

This refers to article “Govt decision upsets locals”.
The presidents of the Hengambu, Babuaf and Yanta landowner associations were reportedly not happy with National Planning and Monitoring Minister Renbo Paita’s announcement that the K34 million given to Morobe government from the K100 million infrastructure development grant (IDG) earmarked for Wafi Golpu project was not for landowners as project has not started yet.
Many things were not right as far as the Mining Act and policy is concerned with regards to the K100 million IDG for Wafi Golpu as I will explain.
Firstly, Hengambu, Babuaf and Yanta landowner associations are not special mining lease (SML), mine easement (ME) nor lease for mining purpose (LMP) landholders as far as the existing land court decision is concerned.
Secondly, it is the landholder that is invited by the Mining Minister to the development forum as required under the Mining Act to discuss and negotiate mine benefits and sign compensation agreements to enable developers to legally enter land to conduct mining activities or even early exploration activities.
Thirdly, IDG is not a requirement under Mining Act or Mineral Policy.
The policy only makes reference to special support grant (SSGs) as appropriated by Government to provincial governments on approved social and economic infrastructure development projects.
SSGs are equivalent to 0.25 per cent of net sales of mine products.
Selling of mine products is said to happen five years after construction.
Fourthly, the policy requires that a minimum of 20 per cent of SSGs is spent in mine affected areas which in this case will be Nembongo, Venembeli and Hekeng villages of Mumeng LLG who will be directly affected by the induced collapse of land surface triggered by underground block caving mining.
The administration and implementation of SSGs are done in accordance with SSG guidelines by Department of National Planning and Monitoring.
In conclusion, there is no such thing as IDG under the mining law and policy to justify a K100 million Wafi Golpu IDG funds and we wonder how this huge chunk of money has gone through budgetary process with parliamentary approval in the first place.
These three landowner associations – Hengambu, Babuaf and Yanta – have no legal basis to qualify as landholders for
Wafi-Golpu project in Morobe in view of the existing land court decision on legal ownership to the land.

Concerned Citizen