Morobe miner gives to landowners

THE benefit sharing agreement (BSA) between Hidden Valley Joint Venture and Nakuwi Landowner Association is delivering results.
In the past two months, the impacts of the agreement have seen the Nauti and Winima landowners receiving a truck and sawmill each, funded by the Hidden Valley Mine Benefits Sharing Trust. Kwembu landowners celebrated the delivery of their truck and sawmill last Friday.
Kwembu leaders, LLG representatives and communities came together at Kwembu Elementary School and  praised the success of the BSA and HVJV, operator of the Hidden Valley gold mine.
Nakuwi Association executive for Kwembu Wayang Kawa said his people had always wanted to see such programmes take place and commended the BSA leaders, comprising three landowner groups, for working together for the peoples’ benefit.
BSA chairman Rex Mauri thanked  the committee and HVJV, saying the benefits received through the trust fund had strengthened the relationship between leaders from communities.
HVJV representatives, community and the Nakuwi leaders encouraged the people to take care of the property and use them for the intended purpose of improving and developing their villages.
The event saw neighbouring communities from Winima and Nauti attending and pledging their full support towards further sustainable projects.
The BSA was signed in late 2011 and created a Trust Deed, following extensive consultation with the Nakuwi Association (Nauti, Kwembu and Winima) and mine area community leaders.
Money from the trust fund provides additional socio-economic benefits to the mine landowning communities and is tied to the continuing successful operation of the Hidden Valley Mine.
Starting with an initial contribution of K3 million in November 2011, trust proceeds will be used on community infrastructure, capacity building, education, training, community development and business development projects and programmes nominated by the respective village planning  committees.
Ongoing funding to the trust is anticipated to be approximately K1.5 million per annum based on fixed and variable amounts tied to mine revenues.
The trust is governed by a board of governors consisting of representatives from the Nakuwi Association, Nauti, Kwembu, and Winima villages, Morobe provincial government, Mineral Resources Authority and HVJV.