Limestone project gets new managing director

KOHN Digan is the new managing director for the Simbu Limestone project in Chuave, Chimbu.
According to a statement from the Department of Commerce and Industry, this was announced by the acting secretary Joseph Witlu after the signing of his two-year contract recently.
“The Simbu Limestone project is a state-sanctioned project,” Witlu said.
“We have to get the project off the ground and running and we must not keep the Mam and Duma people of Chuave waiting.
“We have already purchased machinery and vehicles last year from the provincial improvement programme fund of K5 million and set up project office in Chuave unlike in the past, and it is very important for officers to be on the ground to restore confidence to the landowners, State and other stakeholders.”
Elimbari Lime and Cement Ltd is a commercial entity established by the Department of Commerce and Industry and is the lead developer in the project.
Witlu said following the decision by the project steering committee last year in Goroka, Eastern Highlands, to appoint Digan as managing director was timely, appropriate and a strategic move as he had experience as a mining industry professional domestically and internationally.
Witlu assured Commerce and Industry Minister Wera Mori and Digan that he would work closely with them to deliver the project.
Meanwhile, Digan said he was ready to deliver the project and urged all stakeholders to work closely with him.
Digan is a professional multi commodity geologist with more than 30 years’ experience of field work, consultancy, advisory, and management experience in the field of mineral exploration and mining in Papua New Guinea, Australia, the African continent, Mongolia and Russia.
He holds a Bachelor of Science, majoring in geology, from the University of PNG and a post graduate diploma in mining and mineral technology from Curtin University, Western Australia.