Number of illegal gold buyers increasing in Porgera: Official

THE increasing number of illegal gold buyers in Porgera, Enga, is becoming a concern for the community, law and order coordinator Joe Kuala says.
Kuala said with cash readily available in the town, the number of illegal miners too had increased in the past three weeks to more than 4,000.
They entered the pit daily to mine illegally for gold.
Kuala said the concern was law and order issues in the communities, almost all of the money earned from the sales of gold was spent on alcohol, which was the main contributor to law and order problems in the district.
He added that with more illegal gold miners in the pit, there was no control over the number of gold going out of the mine.
“Before, we usually have 300 illegal miners, but three weeks ago we had 4,700 illegal miners entering the pit daily recorded by Barrick Niugini Ltd,” Kuala said.
“These people come out with up to K10 worth of gold per day and sell it to the illegal gold buyers.
“We are not happy to have gold buyers there.
“They have to leave the valley because with money readily available, it causes illegal miners to continue to trade.
“We have more than 70 gold buyers surrounding the town and an uncontrolled amount of illegal gold going out of the country.”
Special Mine Lease Young Generation Association leader Philip Mungalo called on authorities and Prime Minister James Marape to sort out the licence issue with the mine before matters got worse.
Mungalo said: “Since Barrick Niugini Ltd licence expired, many illegal activities have occurred and much damage will be done.
“Since that time, much gold was taken out.
“And therefore the National Executive Council must be quick in making a decision.”