Mine to carry on operation

PORGERA gold mine in Enga will continue to operate until a determination is made by the State, Mining Minister Johnson Tuke says.
While providing an update on the mine’s extension application and negotiations for the mining development contract and memorandum of agreements (MOA) yesterday, Tuke said consultations with all parties concerned was necessary before a determination was made.
A state negotiation team was appointed by the National Executive Council on April 10 to re-negotiate the Mining Development Contract.
Tuke noted that some legacy issues had to be reviewed by the team in the process.
Some of these issues include environmental damages, relocation and resettlement of landowners among others.
“We all know the licence has expired on Aug 16,” he said.
“Porgera (licence) has extended in time in relation to production, that doesn’t guarantee that we have given (them) a licence.
“There is no ceiling time under our Mining Act that will stop them (Porgera) from operation until the state determines,” Tuke said.
“It is my duty as minister to make sure I move it fast and make sure all due diligence are done properly.”
Mineral Resources Authority managing director Jerry Garry said: “The application (extension) was lodged in July 2017 that application had gone through the process of assessment, there are many other stages has to be complete before a determination is made.”