Mine operator to continue community campaign

PANAUST Ltd, the operator of the Frieda River copper/gold project, says it will continue with the Sepik Development Project Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (Cepa) statutory engagement campaign next year.
In response to questions from The National yesterday, PanAust said it was scheduled to continue to the Green-River area in West Sepik in February.
According to the company, the campaign would promote open and inclusive discussions among Cepa, Mineral Resources Authority and Frieda River Ltd (FRL) representatives.
It would facilitate two-way discussions with communities along the project’s proposed logistics corridor and the Sepik River.
The statutory engagement campaign is the third such campaign FRL has been involved in.
PanAust’s engagement processes would enable community participation and respect for tradition methods of decision-making.
These engagement processes would provide a template on how its subsidiary, FRL, would operate in the country.
“The first-half of the statutory engagement campaign began in Vanimo on Oct 23 and will run for 21 days,” PanAust said.
“This will include consultation with villagers in the mine area and along the proposed road corridor, including Paupe and Hotmin.
“The second-half of the campaign is scheduled to begin in February 2020.
“This will include consultation with approximately 80-100 villages from Green River to the mouth of the Sepik River.
“The campaign is expected to run for 10 weeks in total.”
The statutory engagement campaign will cover both East and West Sepik.
According to PanAust, reaction from locals during the first half of the engagement campaign has been positive.
In December 2018, PanAust announced it had identified a new nation-building pathway for the Frieda River Project.
The new approach to the project focuses on the development of shared-use infrastructure that will support, and in turn be supported by a hydroelectric facility and mining operation.
Under the inclusive development model, the project will be a core component of nation-building.