Mill has authority to operate: PNGFA

Papua
Source:
The National,Monday June 27th, 2016

THE Oro Bay mill may continue operating because it has the authority to do so, according to PNG Forest Authority (PNGFA) acting director Goodwill Amos.
Amos said he did not know why the Oro Bay timber mill had closed its operation.
He said it was up to the company whether it wanted to proceed.
“As far as we are concerned, there’s approval for them to operate, to harvest timber and they haven’t informed us why they have stopped operations,” he said.
“Normally they inform us but to date I have not received any report of why they stopped operations.
“Unless they write to us, we are not aware of the situation.
“My provincial forest officer confirmed that the timber authority has been approved.
It’s up to the company to begin operations and it’s their prerogative. The timber authority is only for 12 months.
“They need to start working soon because we will not extend the timber authority once it’s expired.
“They will have to reapply.”
The K20 million Oro Bay timber mill closed in April leaving about 500 people without jobs.
The mill shut down its operations following the provincial authority’s failure to renew the timber authority.
Amos said the timber authority was approved in May and operations should have started.
“My field staff have not told me anything but all we get is from the media.
“That’s how we learnt about the closure,” he said.

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