Madang leaders revise MoA

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Monday 20th May 2013

 MADANG provincial government and landowners of the Ramu nickel mine completed a consultative meeting with Mining Minister Byron Chan and Madang MPs last Thursday.

The meeting related to the project’s revised memorandum of agreement (MoA) following a working committee meeting held in Madang earlier this month. 

A final draft of the revised proposed MoA was then presented by the Madang Governor Jim Kas to Minister Chan at Parliament House in the presence of Madang MPs James Gau (Raicoast) and John Hickey (Bogia), representatives from the Mining Department, landowners and provincial administration.

The minister would present the review proposal to cabinet.

The Madang government has recommended for the use of an independent external facilitator for the review process, requested for special lands titles, a mine closure plan, financing packages for landowners and the engagement of independent environment assessment team.

It has also agreed to redistribute 20% of its share of royalty to local level governments and a further 3% to landowners.