Porgera businesses happy

THE business community in Porgera, Enga, is looking forward to the reopening of the gold mine set for Friday (Dec 22) that will also boost the local economy, according to the Porgera Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Chamber president Nickson Pakea, when welcoming the reopening announcement by New Porgera Ltd, said he hoped a K100 million grant was put to good use.
“The PM (James Marape) has made available more than K100 million for Porgera through Mineral Resources Enga, Enga government and the Porgera district.
“It is almost four years now and the Porgera mine will reopen.
“We are happy to hear that the mine will reopen on Dec 22. We will celebrate the reopening,” he said.
“On behalf of the business community and locals, I extend our gratitude to the national government, and the state negotiating team for the hard work going forward for greater benefits to PNG including Enga, Porgera district and landowners.
“Prime Minister Marape stood tall with his slogan to back Papua New Guineans and it started with Porgera mine with the PNG stakeholders owning the majority.
“I also extend appreciation to the Barrick chief executive officer and his management to ensure mutual benefits flow back to the host communities and country.”
Pakea said the Porgera mine had been placed on care and maintenance and had not been able to support the community in terms of law and order and bad roads.
“Recently, all the stores are closed; there is no supply going into Porgera valley due to the road being cut off at Yakenda on Nov 10.
“However, it has been cleared and transport is flowing.
“Thanks to landowners there for allowing Barrick to carry out urgent maintenance work to allow cargo trucks to pass through.”
He said issues leading to the roadblock would be addressed along with all other outstanding matters.