Landowners warn govt over delays to review mine deal

LANDOWNERS in Enga say they will shut the Porgera gold mine if the government continues to delay a review of the mining agreement.
Their mouth-piece, Porgera Land Owners Association (PLOA), said yesterday that the government’s lack of interest in reviewing the agreement raised grave concerns about the future of the world-class mine.
Association chairman Mark Tony Ekepa said for more than 22 years the mine had delivered massive re­venue and benefits to the country.
“The landowners are willing to bring in constructive dialogue to change face with the agreement review in conjunction with current times,” he said.
“However, the national government and Mineral Resources Authority have shown a lack of interest in the review.
“We now feel that PLOA have had been misled many times by the government and MRA in dragging and deferring of the mining agreement review over many years. 
“Since our last meeting on March 26, 2012 in Kokopo, we have not received any assurance from both the national government and MRA.
“Therefore we want the national government to advice us, the landowners of Porgera mine, on what steps are now being taken to fulfil the promises that the state has made with PLOA in Kokopo regarding the resettlement of SML landowners, Porgera hospital, Porgera-Tari road, business development and spin off opportunities.”
Ekepa warned that if the mining agreement review was not started by end of this month, the landowners would take action to shut the mine.
“However, we call on the national government to avoid such actions by initiating the MOA review immediately,” he said.