Minister pushing for endorsement

By CLARISSA MOI
MINING Minister Johnson Tuke says consultation on the revised Mining Act has taken a long time and he will push for its endorsement in the first quarter of this year.
“The Mining Act has taken a while,” he said. “It is very good for us to interact with the industry.
“I think the Mining Act has gone through its advanced stage.
“Nine years is long enough.
“As much as that, there are elements and proponents outside who are also stakeholders and are also raising concerns but their concerns have been addressed, we’ve aired them out. And I don’t think there is any more room for any further negotiations or further consultation.”
Tuke said unlike the Oil and Gas Act, on which consultation had just started a year or so, it had taken almost nine years for the Mining Act.
“I know the challenges, but I have to push it in the first quarter or perhaps the second quarter of this year,” he said. “Except, (if) there are reasons that are quite unknown to me, I am sensitive to push it through as I know the significance of the Act.
“It will be significant for Papua New Guineans.”
The Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management secretary Harry Kore recently said the revised Mining Bill was going through due process.
“It is currently pending its presentation before the National Executive Council for its formal endorsement and ultimately its enactment in Parliament,” Kore said.
“The review of the Mining Act 1992 and the Mineral Policy started way back in 2009 when the department was first established following the split between the department and the Mineral Resources Authority.”