MRA, IPA to help Sinivit landowners

 THE Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) and Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) will help the new Sinivit Landowners Association with their business arm, Uramot Investment Company to receive their special support grants.

MRA official James Norum said last week in East New Britain the eight sub-clans of Sinivit under the Sinivit mining project were entitled to special support grant funds (SSG).

“SSG funds are one area we are looking at after the review of the mine project memorandum of agreement and so far Sinivit, under the mining project, is entitled to some SSG funds from national planning.”

Norum said these funds would be included in next year’s budget that would be paid to the East New Britain provincial government and would purposely target roads, schools, health projects at Sinivit.

He said these funds would be arranged following the review of the project memorandum of agreement and would be backdated to when production at the mine began in 2007.

“There will be funds made available though it is not a big mine in comparison to Ok Tedi and Lihir but at least there are funds available through SSG since production began,” Norum said.

Sinivit mine project coordinator Mariko Tako said the review of the MoA would be completed on July 8.

“With the state team involved in the review we are trying to make sure landowners and the country benefit from the mine even though it is small scale,” Tako said.