MRA completes mine assessment

THE Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) has completed technical assessments as part of the renewal process of Porgera mine’s special mining lease which is expiring in August.
Managing director Jerry Garry told The National that the warden’s hearing conducted last month had been delayed due to litigation matters.
“We have already got clearance from our legal team that it does not prevent us from doing our assessments,” he said.
“That injunction order was basically not to issue a special mining lease.
“That case has been won by the State and the matter has been brought back to court for review so we will have to wait and see what the outcome is.”
The authority conducted a warden’s hearing and were given a proposal to inform the State of the amount of materials they want to mine in the next 20 years.
“They were also given the remaining resources called reserves,” Garry said.
“The technical assessment has been completed, the warden’s hearing has been delayed because there has been litigation matters.
“We got clearance from our legal team that it does not prevent us from doing our assessment.”
Garry said the existing mining development contract covered 30 years up to August.
“We’ve already spoken to mining operators that the State intends to review the mining development contract and that understanding is in place,” he said.
“We have now receive the National Executive Council endorsement to set up the state negotiating team to commence renegotiation of the mining development contract.
“That will commence anytime next week.”
The mining development contract is an agreement between the State and the developer.
Garry said they would like to get those agreements concluded before the expiry date so that they could extend the mine life.