Mineral Resources Authority gets familiar with mining sites

MINERAL Resources Authority has begun a familiarisation tour of the country’s mining projects, says managing-director Jerry Garry.
The objective is to meet company executives, understand their operations, appreciate their challenges and explore opportunities for harnessing collaborations, compliances and management of the project’s delivery mechanisms agreed under the memorandums-of-agreement.
Garry said it was important to appreciate positions of companies with regards to the various aspects of their operations and their community obligations.
This is so that MRA can strategise and improve its service to the mining industry and other stakeholders including landowners, local level governments and provincial governments.
Last weekend, Garry and his executives visited Porgera mine in Enga where he met with the company’s executive management team.
Garry commended the company for its perseverance in ensuring continuity of the mine, amidst various technical and social challenges.
The Mineral Resources Authority team was taken on a tour of the mine pit, underground mine, processing plant and a helicopter inspection of tailings along Porgera-Lagaip-Strickland rivers.
Garry’s tour of mines began a week ago at Ok Tedi where he spent three days visiting various aspects of the company’s operations.
He was shown the control centre where processing of the ore took place.
Garry said he was impressed with the systems and processes at the mine, which ensured the mine operated safely and delivered sustainable production, despite the weather and climatic challenges.
He applauded the company’s mine waste management system, especially at Bige operations, where dredging of the mine waste tailings was carried out.
“My aim is, in fact, to listen to all stakeholders whom we serve,” Garry said.
“Not just the industry.
One of the most-important stakeholder groups is landowners of all the mining projects.”
Garry said Mineral Resources Authority, as a responsible agency of Government, would make every effort to avail itself to all stakeholders.