Landowners told to work with Petromin

 A FORMER managing director of Petromin has urged landowners to work with the company in ensuring mining operations in Goilala district, Central, continues.

Joshua Kalinoe was reacting to a call by Goilala MP Daniel Mona on Sunday for Petromin not to interfere in the operations of the Tolukuma Mine until after the visit of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill scheduled for next week.

A team from Petromin which went to the mine last weekend were told by workers and landowners they were not welcome there and told not to return.

Kalinoe supported a statement by Petromin chairman Sir Brown Bai calling on Mona to work with the board and management of Petromin.

Kalinoe said Petromin spent a lot of time and money since it acquired the mine in 2008 to keep it going “so that economic activities in that remote part of the Central continues, despite the operational challenges of weather, inefficient machinery and lack of road transportation access”.

He said the board and management of Petromin recognised these challenges and had subsequently been working on a recapitalisation strategy to continue mining operation in the area. 

“I therefore urge the member for Goilala, the chiefs of the mine lease area and all the employees of TGM to work with the board and management of Petromin as well as the government to find solutions to address the challenges facing the mine so that economic activities and benefits to the landowners and the near mine communities could be enhanced,” Kalinoe said.