MRA wants landowners involved in construction phase of mining projects

By CLARISSA MOI
MINERAL Resources Authority (MRA) says it would like to see landowners participate in mining projects, especially during construction phase.
Managing director Jerry Garry said this in an update of the review of the memorandum of agreement (MoA) for the Woodlark gold project in Milne Bay.
He told The National that the project’s MoA discussions concluded last October and the agreement was put through the established government process for clearance before getting National Executive Council’s (NEC) approval.
Garry previously said the MoA review process for the Woodlark gold project was successfully concluded in record time under a week last year.
He said they were able to achieve those results as negotiations and discussions between the stakeholders were within the framework of existing laws and policies.
During the project’s stakeholders meeting in Alotau last October, issues discussed included land, royalties, tax credit scheme, special support grants, infrastructure, business development plan, employment and training, and mine closure.
The stakeholders included the State, project developer Geopacific Resources Ltd, Dal Wanuwan Woodlark Lease Association Inc (landowners), Murua local level government and the Milne Bay government.
The Government, which was led by the Commerce and Industry Department, came up with a national content plan to ensure landowners and businesses were engaged by the developer in business spin-offs, begin ning from the construction phase of projects.
Garry said the discussion on the national content plan was yet to be concluded as it was a priority of the Government. “We (MRA) would like to see project landowners participate in the project development during the construction phase,” he said.
“The national content plan is yet to be approved by NEC.
“It should have been completed last December and processed.
“However, due to the Covid-19, sanctioned activities and programmes geared towards the national content plans discussions were deferred, they are anticipated to be concluded next month.”