Official urges parliament to support mining law

The National Business

By JEFFREY ELAPA
THE Mining Act (1992) review being conducted by the Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management Department must be supported by all Members of Parliament.
A senior official with the department Emmanuel Donigi said this would ensure business in the industry was conducted fairly.
Donigi made the statement in his presentation during the Frieda River copper-gold project landowners’ benefits and development forum in Tabubil, Western, last weekend.
The forum was organised by Telefomin MP Solan Mirisim.
Donigi said the mineral policy and legislative exercise undertaken by the department include;

  • Mining Act (1992) review;
  • Mineral Resource Authority Act 2005 review; and,
  • the Mineral Policy Review that is before Cabinet for endorsement before it goes to Parliament for enactment.

“We are now working on the Mining Safety Act 1997 review,” he said.
“Apart from the reviews, the State is looking at new policy developments which include geohazard management policy, mine waste management policy, small scale mining policy, and downstream mineral processing policy.
“We are also looking at how to ensure there is visibility on the production and export to protect tax base through the establishment of the mineral production and export data repository at MRA.”
Donigi further noted that they were also looking at legislating an existing requirement under the mining development contract (MDC) for the establishment of a downstream processing facility and the establishment of a gold bullion bank.
He said this was a direction from the National Executive Council.
Other areas the department had taken note of included infrastructure compliance to earthquake building code standards and mitigation and avoidance of geological risks to protect lives and properties.